esikääntäjätoiminto

The esikääntäjätoiminto, often translated as pre-translation function or pre-translation step, is a common feature in computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools. Its primary purpose is to leverage existing translation memories (TMs) to pre-fill segments in a new translation project. When a segment of source text is encountered, the esikääntäjätoiminto searches the TM for the closest match. If a sufficient match is found, the corresponding target text from the TM is automatically inserted into the target segment of the current document.

This process significantly speeds up the translation workflow, especially for projects involving repetitive content or ongoing updates of existing documents. By providing a starting point for each segment, the translator can focus on refining the pre-translated text rather than starting from scratch. The effectiveness of the esikääntäjätoiminto depends heavily on the quality and relevance of the translation memory used. A well-maintained and comprehensive TM will yield better pre-translation results.

The degree of match required for pre-translation is usually configurable within the CAT tool. Thresholds can be set to determine how close a TM match needs to be to trigger an automatic fill. Common settings include exact matches, fuzzy matches with varying similarity percentages, and identical segments. If no suitable match is found, the segment remains empty, and the translator proceeds with manual translation. The esikääntäjätoiminto is a fundamental tool for improving translation efficiency and consistency.