Translation Technology Landscape Report April 2013 Funded by LT-Innovate Copyright © TAUS 2013 1 Translation Technology Landscape Report COPYRIGHT © TAUS 2013 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system of any nature, or transmitted or made available in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of TAUS. TAUS will pursue copyright infringements. In spite of careful preparation and editing, this publication may contain errors and imperfections. Authors, editors, and TAUS do not accept responsibility for the consequences that may result thereof. Published by TAUS BV, De Rijp, The Netherlands. For further information, please email [email protected] 2 Copyright © TAUS 2013 Translation Technology Landscape Report Target Audience Any individual interested in the business of translation will gain from this report. The report will help beginners to understand the main uses for different types of translation technology, differentiate offerings and make informed decisions. For more experienced users and business decision-makers, the report shares insights on key trends, future prospects and areas of uncertainty. ,QYHVWRUVDQGSROLF\PDNHUVZLOOEHQH¿WIURPDQDO\VHVRIXQGHUO\LQJYDOXH propositions. Report Structure This report has been structured in discrete chapters and sections so that the reader can consume the information needed. The report does not need to be read from VWDUWWR¿QLVK7KHFRQYHQLHQFHDIIRUGHGIURPVXFKDVWUXFWXUHDOVRPHDQVWKHUHLV some repetition. Authors: Rahzeb Choudhury and Brian McConnell Reviewers - Jaap van der Meer and Rose Lockwood Our thanks to LT-Innovative for funding this report. Copyright © TAUS 2013 3 Translation Technology Landscape Report CONTENTS 1. Translation Technology Landscape in a Snapshot 8 2. A Brief History of Translation Technology 11 3. Tools for the Professional Translation Industry 15 3.1 Types of Tools 15 3.1.1 Translation Tools 16 3.1.1.1 Client/Server Based CAT Tools 16 3.1.1.2 Web Based CAT Tools 17 3.1.1.3 Mobile Translation Tools 18 3.1.1.4 Stand Alone Utilities 18 3.1.2 Translation Management Systems 19 3.1.2.1 Document TMS Systems 19 3.1.2.2 Localization TMS 20 3.1.2.3 Translation Memory & Terminology Management 20 3.1.2.4 QA Tools & Processes 21 3.1.3 Translation Processes & Features 21 3.1.3.1 Translation Memory 21 3.1.3.2 Advanced Leveraging 22 3.1.3.3 Translation Process Management 22 3.1.3.4 Terminology Management 23 3.1.3.5 Controlled Authoring 23 3.1.3.6 Quality Assurance 24 3.2 Translation Technology Trends 25 3.2.1 From Desktop to Server and now Cloud 25 3.2.2 From Licensing to Professional Services and SaaS 25 3.2.3 Integration with Content Management Systems 26 3.3 Translation Technology Value Chain 26 3.3.1 Supply 26 3.3.1.1 Types of Providers 26 3.3.1.1.1 Translation Management Systems 26 3.3.1.1.2 Localization Management Systems 27 3.3.1.1.3 Translation Memory (Stand Alone) 27 3.3.1.1.4 Audio/Video Captioning Systems 28 3.3.1.1.5 Interpretation Systems 28 3.3.1.2 Business Models 29 3.3.1.2.1 Licensed 29 4 Copyright © TAUS 2013 Translation Technology Landscape Report 3.3.1.2.2 Cloud/SaaS 29 3.3.1.2.3 Translation Services 29 3.3.1.3 Channels and Platforms 30 3.3.2 Demand 30 3.3.2.1 Individual Translators 31 3.3.2.2 Language Service Providers (Translation Agencies) 31 3.3.2.3 Publisher Organizations 32 3.4 Opportunities and Challenges in Translation Technology 33 3.4.1 Interoperability and Standards 33 3.4.2 Measuring and Benchmarking Quality 33 4. Machine Translation 37 4.1 Approaches to Machine Translation 37 4.1.1 Rules Based 37 4.1.1.1 Products and Practitioners 38 4.1.2 Example Based 38 4.1.2.1 Products and Practitioners 38 4.1.3 Statistical 39 4.1.3.1 Products and Practitioners 39 4.1.4 Hybrid 40 4.1.4.1 Products and Practitioners 41 4.2 Machine Translation Trends 41 4.2.1 Customized Engines 41 4.2.2 Real-time Customization 41 4.2.3 Open Source Technology 42 4.2.4 Data Sharing 42 4.2.5 Human/Machine Translation 42 4.2.6 From Licensing to Professional Services 43 4.3 Machine Translation Value Chain 43 4.3.1 Supply 43 4.3.1.1 Types of Providers 43 4.3.1.2 Business Models 44 4.3.1.3 Channels and Platforms 44 4.3.2 Demand 44 4.3.2.1 Language Service Providers 44 4.3.2.2 Consumer/Individuals Direct 45 4.3.2.3 SME and Enterprise Direct 45 4.3.2.4 Government/Institutions 46 Copyright © TAUS 2013 5 Translation Technology Landscape Report 4.4 Machine Translation Breakthroughs 46 4.4.1 Intractable Problems 46 4.4.2 Solvable Problems 47 4.5 Opportunities and Challenges in the Machine Translation Industry 47 4.5.1 Interoperability and Standards 47 4.5.2 Measuring and Benchmarking Quality 47 4.5.3 Cost of Customization 48 4.5.4 The Search for Talent 48 7UHQGV7KDW,QÀXHQFHWKH7UDQVODWLRQ7HFKQRORJ\,QGXVWU\ 5.1 Cloud 51 5.2 Crowd 51 5.3 Big Data 52 5.4 Mobile 52 5.5 Social 52 5.6 Convergence 53 5.6.1 Technology convergence 53 5.6.2 Functional convergence 54 6. Paradigm Shift and Counter Forces 56 6.1 Translation as a Utility 56 6.2 Counter Forces 57 7. Translation Data and Technology 58 7.1 Opportunities 59 7.1.1 Terminology 59 7.1.2 Customized Machine Translation 60 7.1.3 Global Market and Customer Analytics 60 7.1.4 Quality management 61 7.1.5 Interoperability 61 7.2 Access to Translation Data 61 7.3 Sharing Translation Data 62 8. Drivers and Inhibitors 63 9. Methodology 65 Addendum: Clarifying Copyright on Translation Data 66 6 Copyright © TAUS 2013 Translation Technology Landscape Report Trend Convergence Drives Translation as a Utility Source: TAUS Copyright © TAUS 2013 7 Translation Technology Landscape Report 1. Translation Technology Landscape in a Snapshot The translation technology segment is at a deeply transformative point in its evolution. For one genera- tion the segment was largely comprised of solutions that serviced the professional translation industry. These tools improve the productivity and consistency of human translation and they remain relevant for their steadily growing target market. +RZHYHULQWKHODVW¿YH\HDUVWKHJUDQGIDWKHURIDOOWUDQVODWLRQDXWRPDWLRQWHFKQRORJLHVPDFKLQHWUDQVODWLRQ began to be adopted by the professional industry en masse and is increasingly ubiquitous on the worldwide web. The ubiquity of continuously improving data-driven or statistical machine translation is one of three factors creating a paradigm shift in the demand for translation. In addition, global economic growth is shifting to non- English speaking markets and globalization is leading to previously unseen levels of cultural exchange. Together these major technology, economic and social trends are converging to take translation from a “cost of doing business” for a few thousand organizations and a luxury professional service for almost everyone else, to a utility sector. That is to say, a necessary service for all players in the global informa- tion society, with differentiated quality expectations dependent on purpose. Demand for translation automation technology, and in particular machine translation, will grow: - From language service providers and individual translators - From internationally operating enterprises and organizations - Through being embedded in enterprise systems, social software, consumer devices and over time all digital touch points The coming years herald a Convergence era where technologies, such as speech, search and others will continue to be combined with machine translation to create new solutions. There will be functional convergence within enterprises and across supply chains as machine translation is increasingly embedded with unexpected innovations as a result. &ORXGEDVHGVHUYLFHVDQGRSHQVRXUFHWHFKQRORJ\VXFKDVWKH0RVHVWRRONLWOHYHOWKHSOD\LQJ¿HOGIRU innovative new providers. That said, translation data, the fuel for data driven machine translation, is required on a massive scale to satisfy demand. Demand will come from verticals requiring customized GRPDLQVSHFL¿FPDFKLQHWUDQVODWLRQ'HPDQGZLOOFRPHIURPQDWLRQVZDQWLQJWREHEHWWHUVHUYHGE\ translation technology. Whether markets for translation data are open or closed is a key factor affecting the nature of evolution in the segment, the cost of solutions and the motivation to innovate. Last year we saw the number of Android apps exceed that of Apple’s iOS. Android’s open source approach shifted power dynamics and created economic opportunities for many in an extremely high growth area. Opening up access to translation data has the potential to be just as powerful an enabler. 8 Copyright © TAUS 2013 Translation Technology Landscape Report Copyright © TAUS 2013 9 Translation Technology Landscape Report Content Explosion Content and translation volume keep growing explosively, from translation of paper docu- ments to localization of software, through globalization and this current phase of integration RIWUDQVODWLRQWHFKQRORJ\LQWRGHYLFHVDQGDSSOLFDWLRQV:LWKWKHRQVHWRIXQL¿HGVHDPOHVV personalized user experiences across digital touch points there will be a manifold increase in the content explosion. Translation technology solutions will continue to evolve for use scenarios arising for each phase of evolution. 1980 - Translation 1990 - Localization No Translation Technology Translation Memory and Glossary Technology 2000 - Globalization 2010 - Integration :RUNÀRZ6\VWHPV Machine Translation and Advanced Leveraging 2020 - Convergence Machine Translation and other Language Technologies Source: TAUS Embedded in all Digital Touchpoints 10 Copyright © TAUS 2013 Translation Technology Landscape Report 2. A Brief History of Translation Technology It is debatable whether the translation industry’s response to rapid globalization and growth in content has been the right one. Has the industry made best use of technology to raise its capacity and stay SUR¿WDEOH"2UKDVWKHFRQWHQWH[SORVLRQPDUJLQDOL]HGDQLQGXVWU\RIDUWLVDQV" To understand the current landscape we need to take a ride back into translation technology history.