Evaluations of Translation Services

By: Mikio Moriyasu - Revised: 2006-06-22 devin

Introduction

Quick evaluations of specific application and online translation services.


Applications

Software evaluations were difficult as it appears none of the corporate based applications such as Translation Experts LTD's NeuroTran or WordTran come with the option for a free evaluation copy. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, further inquiry was not possible. Two Mac OS X shareware utilities, however, were quickly evaluated.



Translation Services:
  • Word
  • Phrase/Sentence
Pros:
  • Users can choose several different translation combinations (i.e. language 1 to language 2)
  • The translation database will display several different translation options for the words that are entered. As a result, if a phrase or sentence is entered, it is possible to construct a translation from the available options.
  • Available for Classic and Mac OS X.
Limitations:
  • Only word and limited sentence translation is possible with this applications. It does not have Document or Web Page options.
  • Users will need a rudimentary understanding of the language they are translating into if they are constructing translations for simple sentences from the list of available options



Translation Services:
  • Word
  • Phrase/Sentence
  • Small Document
Pros:
  • Users can choose to use four different online translation services: FreeTranslation, Babelfish, InterTran, and Lycos.
  • The four options give users a number of languages to translate into.
Limitations:
  • Users are dependent on the individual strengths and are hampered by the individual weaknesses characteristic of all four online translation services used by the application (see next section for Bablefish, FreeTranslation, Intertran, Lycos).

Online Services

A general search of the Internet will bring up several different language translation sites. The largest and most sophisticated of these were evaluated for this project.



Translation Services:
  • Word
  • Phrase/Sentence
  • Very small documents
  • Web Page
Pros:
  • Language database is a version used in SDL's Enterprise Translation Server software.
  • SDL offers a higher quality online translation service known as PlusTranslation for a fee. Users must register and login.
  • The initial translation of both text and web pages is fast
  • The translation function is not hampered by pages with large numbers of images or animations.
  • Non English users can insert special characters from a list of options right on the main page.
Limitations:
  • Service only offers translations for a limited number of Western European Languages.
  • When additional translations are attempted, the server seems to be busy.



Translation Services:
  • Word
  • Phrase/Sentence
  • Small documents
  • Web Page
Pros:
  • Language database is a version used in NeuroTran and Word Tran, Translation Experts' commercially available translation software.
  • Translation Experts offers a higher quality corporate online translation service for a fee. Users must register and login.
  • The initial translation of both text and web pages is very fast.
  • The translation function is not hampered by pages with large numbers of images or animations.
  • Language database has access to Western European, Eastern European, and prominent Asian Languages.
  • Non English users can insert special characters by setting foreign keyboard layouts right from the web page.
Limitations:
  • The site is very busy during peak business hours.

Systran
Related Web Sites:


Translation Services:
  • Word
  • Phrase/Sentence
  • Very small documents
  • Web Page
Pros:
  • Language database is the version used in Systran's corporate translation software.
  • The initial translation of both text and web pages is fast
  • The translation function is not hampered by pages with large numbers of images or animations.
Limitations:
  • Service only offers translations for a limited number of Western European Languages.

Altavista/Babelfish
Related Web Sites:


Translation Services:
  • Word
  • Phrase/Sentence
  • Very small documents
  • Web Page
Pros:
  • The translation database has Asian and Middle Eastern languages already built in.
Limitations:
  • When accessing Babelfish through Altavista, the translation process is very slow and seems to be hampered by the Altavista "cookie" frame at the top of the web page.
  • Web pages that have large numbers of graphics or animations will trip up the translation resulting in very slow translations or no translation at all.
  • To successfully translate documents into non roman text, the appropriate fonts must be installed.

Lycos
Related Web Sites:


Translation Services:
  • Word
  • Phrase/Sentence
  • Very small documents
  • Web Page
Lycos utilizes Systran translation services for its Translation. As a result, it possesses all of the features, advantages, and limitations of that online translation service.