My, very personal, reaction to the referendum result...
I am extremely disappointed. I still can't get my head around what has happened, around what will happen next (does anyone know?). Yet mostly I am disappointed and a little frightened about how divided this country is. I say is, not has become, because I am sure that things have always been this way, through the miners' strikes in the 80s, through the riots in 2011, through the Scottish referendum, ...
I suppose I have always know that there are deep divisions in this country. But I have been protected from seeing the reality of it in many ways. I have a supportive family, a university education and a decent income, I volunteer, I studied abroad, I did a traineeship at the EU, I participate in community activities. Basically, I have been very fortunate and my life revolves around spending time with people who treat others with kindness, openness and solidarity. Around people who are taking advantage of the opportunities available to give something back or to find support in their community.
I have no idea why so many people voted for Brexit or why so many people lack that feeling of solidarity with other Europeans that I feel so strongly. Why do people vote for a government that enacts laws that disadvantage them? Why do people vote for parties that preach prejudice and isolation?
I could take a few guesses. Inequality and education would probably be at the top of my list. And even though I don't truly know, I want to find out, because that is where we start if we want to make things better.
P.S. I say inequality particularly after reading The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better published in 2009 and written by Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson. Highly recommended.
Wednesday, 29 June 2016
Wednesday, 25 May 2016
OmegaT CAT Tool Review
What is OmegaT?
OmegaT is an open-source Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) tool. You can find more technical information and download instructions here.
I have been using progressively more advanced versions of OmegaT throughout my years as a translator. The following is a short explanation of the software and its pros and cons.
What are CAT tools?
CAT stands for Computer Assisted Translation. First off, I would like to make it clear that CAT is not the same as machine translation. Machine translation involves automatic translation using a tool such as Google Translate. On the other hand, CAT tools break source documents down into segments, display glossaries and previous translations, and automatically format a target document. As such, the translator translates the document themselves; the CAT tool facilitates the translator’s work, it does not replace the translator.
translation memory (TM) A database of previous translations.
How does OmegaT work?
OmegaT is open-source software. This means that it is available free of charge to anyone who is able to access the internet and download it. Once downloaded and installed, OmegaT is quite straightforward to use.
Step 1: Set up a new project. This will create a project folder containing a series of sub-folders (source, target, tm, glossary, etc.).
Step 2: Save your source document in the source folder, either by saving or pasting it there or by importing it.
Step 3: Save any translation memories (.tmx) and glossaries in the corresponding folders.
Step 4: Load the project. The project will appear, segmented, in the main window with the glossary and translation memory displayed to the sides.
Step 5: You can now begin translating, segment by segment.
Step 6: When you have finished your translation, hit Ctrl+D and the translated document will appear in the target folder, usually fully formatted.
Pros
Clients can provide glossaries and TMs for you to work with. This is particularly useful when you are working on developing drafts of a document or in a team.
Guidance and information is available in a wide range of languages.
You can download dictionaries which work with the software.
OmegaT uses tags to format the document, saving time and improving accuracy.
OmegaT continuously updates the TMs as you work so you can see previous translations from the same document as well as previously saved TMs.
There is a wide range of keyboard shortcuts which make OmegaT a very efficient and user-friendly tool.
Cons
The match function has limited ability to recognise less similar (fuzzy) segments.
The search function could be improved for the glossaries - currently only exact matches show up unless you use wildcard characters.
The tags can be irritating. Some tags seem to have no function and some documents can end up looking like 'tag soup'! You can remove the tags but then you have to format the document manually afterwards.
(I do have some tips for working around this issue which I will post soon.)
Occasionally, OmegaT does crash, fail to load the target document or fail to find a project. I would recommend regularly saving and backing up your work and keeping OmegaT open until you have successfully saved your target document.
~
Overall, OmegaT is a fantastic piece of software. I would recommend it to anyone and truly think there is no need to pay for commercial software that has very similar functionality.
Finally, I would like to thank Mélanie Pérard, a trusted French-speaking colleague, for editing my translation into French and improving it immensely.
OmegaT is an open-source Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) tool. You can find more technical information and download instructions here.
I have been using progressively more advanced versions of OmegaT throughout my years as a translator. The following is a short explanation of the software and its pros and cons.
What are CAT tools?
CAT stands for Computer Assisted Translation. First off, I would like to make it clear that CAT is not the same as machine translation. Machine translation involves automatic translation using a tool such as Google Translate. On the other hand, CAT tools break source documents down into segments, display glossaries and previous translations, and automatically format a target document. As such, the translator translates the document themselves; the CAT tool facilitates the translator’s work, it does not replace the translator.
Translators use CAT tools to help them to translate more efficiently and maintain terminological consistency. By storing previous translations in a translation memory, translators can easily access these translations and ensure that terms are translated in the same way as they have been before, if appropriate.
segment A section
of the source document. Usually a sentence.
source document The
original document which is going to be translated.
target document The
translated document.
translation memory (TM) A database of previous translations.
How does OmegaT work?
OmegaT is open-source software. This means that it is available free of charge to anyone who is able to access the internet and download it. Once downloaded and installed, OmegaT is quite straightforward to use.
Step 1: Set up a new project. This will create a project folder containing a series of sub-folders (source, target, tm, glossary, etc.).
Step 2: Save your source document in the source folder, either by saving or pasting it there or by importing it.
Step 3: Save any translation memories (.tmx) and glossaries in the corresponding folders.
Step 4: Load the project. The project will appear, segmented, in the main window with the glossary and translation memory displayed to the sides.
Step 5: You can now begin translating, segment by segment.
Step 6: When you have finished your translation, hit Ctrl+D and the translated document will appear in the target folder, usually fully formatted.
Clients can provide glossaries and TMs for you to work with. This is particularly useful when you are working on developing drafts of a document or in a team.
Guidance and information is available in a wide range of languages.
You can download dictionaries which work with the software.
OmegaT uses tags to format the document, saving time and improving accuracy.
OmegaT continuously updates the TMs as you work so you can see previous translations from the same document as well as previously saved TMs.
There is a wide range of keyboard shortcuts which make OmegaT a very efficient and user-friendly tool.
Cons
The match function has limited ability to recognise less similar (fuzzy) segments.
The search function could be improved for the glossaries - currently only exact matches show up unless you use wildcard characters.
The tags can be irritating. Some tags seem to have no function and some documents can end up looking like 'tag soup'! You can remove the tags but then you have to format the document manually afterwards.
(I do have some tips for working around this issue which I will post soon.)
Occasionally, OmegaT does crash, fail to load the target document or fail to find a project. I would recommend regularly saving and backing up your work and keeping OmegaT open until you have successfully saved your target document.
~
Overall, OmegaT is a fantastic piece of software. I would recommend it to anyone and truly think there is no need to pay for commercial software that has very similar functionality.
Finally, I would like to thank Mélanie Pérard, a trusted French-speaking colleague, for editing my translation into French and improving it immensely.
Monday, 11 April 2016
Back to Higher Education: Pros and Cons
I just thought I'd write a quick post about the things I have found most difficult and most enjoyable about going back into higher education. I am taking the LLM International Law, Globalisation and Development taught course at Oxford Brookes, part time.
The Downsides:
1. Budget, budget, budget. Studying part time means only working part time and this can put a strain on finances. I wouldn't recommend starting a course without a savings cushion just in case the course work builds up and you want to take some time off work to get on top of it. Part time is a two year commitment at most universities so it is important to be prepared for that.
2. Tick Tock. Time management skills are pushed to the extreme. Considering the hours you are expected to put into each module to get the most out of it (pushing full-time for a part-time student!), it is a challenge to balance university, work and other commitments. But don't forget that time off is important too!
3. Commute. I am fortunate enough that I have to drive against rush hour traffic, but the commute is still not ideal. Public transport is unfortunatly so unreliable (and expensive) that I gave up on it after the first month even though driving means getting nothing done for an hour. All is not lost. I use my communte to relax, put some music on and enjoy the countryside (fingers crossed for sun).
The Ups:
1. The Brain High. I love to learn. I especially love to learn from people who are passionate about their subject and that's exactly what I am getting from this course. But it's not just in the lectures and the seminars, it's in everything you do for the course, all the reading, all the research, all the arguments to work out and get down on paper. It's all an opportunity to learn.
2. It's a Melting Pot: There is such a fantastic variety of people on the course who all bring their different perspectives to the table. Some have experience in law, others have experience in other fields. Our cohort is lucky enough to be made up of classmates of so many different nationalities and from so many cultural and academic backgrounds. There is a wealth of varied experience and everyone is generous with their knowedge.
3. Mental fist bump moments. The sense of achievement when you grasp a concept, put things together or get back a good grade for a challenging essay is undeniable. Yes the work is challenging, but where's the fun if it's easy.
Formal taught programmes aren't for everyone. They will certainly test your work ethic and time management skills. But for me it's a challenge worth taking on. The benefits I have reaped from it so far show me that. I go on, looking forward to the next semester, starting my dissertation in earnest and learning about international human rights law and corporate social responsibility.
The Downsides:
1. Budget, budget, budget. Studying part time means only working part time and this can put a strain on finances. I wouldn't recommend starting a course without a savings cushion just in case the course work builds up and you want to take some time off work to get on top of it. Part time is a two year commitment at most universities so it is important to be prepared for that.
2. Tick Tock. Time management skills are pushed to the extreme. Considering the hours you are expected to put into each module to get the most out of it (pushing full-time for a part-time student!), it is a challenge to balance university, work and other commitments. But don't forget that time off is important too!
3. Commute. I am fortunate enough that I have to drive against rush hour traffic, but the commute is still not ideal. Public transport is unfortunatly so unreliable (and expensive) that I gave up on it after the first month even though driving means getting nothing done for an hour. All is not lost. I use my communte to relax, put some music on and enjoy the countryside (fingers crossed for sun).
The sun doesn't always shine.
The Ups:
1. The Brain High. I love to learn. I especially love to learn from people who are passionate about their subject and that's exactly what I am getting from this course. But it's not just in the lectures and the seminars, it's in everything you do for the course, all the reading, all the research, all the arguments to work out and get down on paper. It's all an opportunity to learn.
2. It's a Melting Pot: There is such a fantastic variety of people on the course who all bring their different perspectives to the table. Some have experience in law, others have experience in other fields. Our cohort is lucky enough to be made up of classmates of so many different nationalities and from so many cultural and academic backgrounds. There is a wealth of varied experience and everyone is generous with their knowedge.
3. Mental fist bump moments. The sense of achievement when you grasp a concept, put things together or get back a good grade for a challenging essay is undeniable. Yes the work is challenging, but where's the fun if it's easy.
But oh my! The shiny, shiny old books!
Monday, 8 February 2016
A Big Step in CPD: LLM in International Law!
Why an LLM?
Having undertaken a number of short courses and attended a number of seminars in my specialist areas, I came to the conclusion that short courses, seminars and self-driven research can only take you so far.
Formal study at a university offers a variety of different benefits (and a few drawbacks), which I will cover in my next post. For now, I would like to explain why I decided that this was the right way to move forward in my career.
I have been considering gaining a qualification in Law for a while but it wasn't until I attended my sister's graduation last year that I found the right course for me. The International Law, Globalisation and Development course at Oxford Brookes had everything I was looking for - a high-quality taught course at a renowned university, impressive access to resources and range of modules in subjects areas I specialise in or would like to specialise in in the future. An hour commute from home and it was decided. But why consider another degree in the first place?
Formal study at a university offers access to expertise. Expertise not only in the form of your lecturers, but also in the form of visiting lecturers and speakers, industry partnerships and the library with its own subject-specialist librarians. I am also currently benefiting from access to the vast treasures of the Bodleian Library, including its Law Library. This may not get most people's hearts racing, but linguists are a funny sort!
Secondly, I am a firm believer that how you think critically about ideas and arguments - as well as how you approach a problem - is just as important as what you know. Online courses teach you how to manage your own learning and decide which tasks should be prioritised, seminars teach you to think critically and quickly lest you miss your opportunity to discuss an elusive point, and self-study teaches methodical progress, research skills and independent thinking. For me, a formal university course teaches all of these, plus how to discuss problems and ideas at length, critically with peers from a range of backgrounds.
Thirdly, if life were easy, it would get boring very quickly. I enjoy challenges and I love learning, so a high-intensity LLM was a logical choice. Like any challenge, studying part-time comes with ups and downs but on balance I believe it is worth the commitment.
Finally, formal study - all being well - grants you a qualification. This is not only a bonus for your sense of personal achievement but it allows you to prove to clients and potential employers that you have skills and knowledge that others may only claim. A recognised qualification may give you access to more interesting work, better revenue sources or other areas of employment. It is a personal and professional asset worth working for.
(In case you are interested:)
Semester 1 - Completed
I was concerned about not coming from a formal law background, but I was soon reassured. The range of people on course, from so many disciplines and countries, was fantastic. I was very keen to get to know everyone, to learn with them and to understand their different perspectives.
International Law
History and foundations of the current international legal system
Principles and sources of international law
Main areas andplayers actors (States, UN, ICJ, etc.)
Advanced Legal Research Methods (Affectionately know as Alarm!)
How to research international law, from library resources to blogs
Types of sources and choosing between them
Structuring a response to a legal question
Referencing (*shudder*)
Semester 2 - Just started
Law, Globalisation and Development
A multidisciplinary consideration of how the fields of law, globalisation and development influence and interact with each other
International Refugees and Migrants
History of migration patterns, influences and the development of the law surrounding refugees and migrants, again multidisciplinary
Semester 4/5 - TBC (Human Rights and/or Corporate Social Responsibility)
Next Entry: The Pros and Cons
Having undertaken a number of short courses and attended a number of seminars in my specialist areas, I came to the conclusion that short courses, seminars and self-driven research can only take you so far.
Formal study at a university offers a variety of different benefits (and a few drawbacks), which I will cover in my next post. For now, I would like to explain why I decided that this was the right way to move forward in my career.
I have been considering gaining a qualification in Law for a while but it wasn't until I attended my sister's graduation last year that I found the right course for me. The International Law, Globalisation and Development course at Oxford Brookes had everything I was looking for - a high-quality taught course at a renowned university, impressive access to resources and range of modules in subjects areas I specialise in or would like to specialise in in the future. An hour commute from home and it was decided. But why consider another degree in the first place?
Formal study at a university offers access to expertise. Expertise not only in the form of your lecturers, but also in the form of visiting lecturers and speakers, industry partnerships and the library with its own subject-specialist librarians. I am also currently benefiting from access to the vast treasures of the Bodleian Library, including its Law Library. This may not get most people's hearts racing, but linguists are a funny sort!
Secondly, I am a firm believer that how you think critically about ideas and arguments - as well as how you approach a problem - is just as important as what you know. Online courses teach you how to manage your own learning and decide which tasks should be prioritised, seminars teach you to think critically and quickly lest you miss your opportunity to discuss an elusive point, and self-study teaches methodical progress, research skills and independent thinking. For me, a formal university course teaches all of these, plus how to discuss problems and ideas at length, critically with peers from a range of backgrounds.
Thirdly, if life were easy, it would get boring very quickly. I enjoy challenges and I love learning, so a high-intensity LLM was a logical choice. Like any challenge, studying part-time comes with ups and downs but on balance I believe it is worth the commitment.
Finally, formal study - all being well - grants you a qualification. This is not only a bonus for your sense of personal achievement but it allows you to prove to clients and potential employers that you have skills and knowledge that others may only claim. A recognised qualification may give you access to more interesting work, better revenue sources or other areas of employment. It is a personal and professional asset worth working for.
(In case you are interested:)
Semester 1 - Completed
I was concerned about not coming from a formal law background, but I was soon reassured. The range of people on course, from so many disciplines and countries, was fantastic. I was very keen to get to know everyone, to learn with them and to understand their different perspectives.
International Law
History and foundations of the current international legal system
Principles and sources of international law
Main areas and
Advanced Legal Research Methods (Affectionately know as Alarm!)
How to research international law, from library resources to blogs
Types of sources and choosing between them
Structuring a response to a legal question
Referencing (*shudder*)
Semester 2 - Just started
Law, Globalisation and Development
A multidisciplinary consideration of how the fields of law, globalisation and development influence and interact with each other
International Refugees and Migrants
History of migration patterns, influences and the development of the law surrounding refugees and migrants, again multidisciplinary
Semester 4/5 - TBC (Human Rights and/or Corporate Social Responsibility)
Next Entry: The Pros and Cons
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