Technology“We believe that for translation quality, it is important to understand that there are both approaches that focus on quantifying the translation quality appraisal and approaches that recognize that there will be variation in the translation quality depending on customer wishes.”
Since it was founded, Cultemo has been carrying out translation quality reviews in the form of client reviews for a number of large foreign IT manufacturers.
Through this, we gained know-how about such things as the digitization and categorization of translation quality. We have continued to create a system that enables the logical review of translation quality.
In recent years, providing instruction on the analysis and solutions of translation problems has proven useful in raising translators’ skills.
“If you are doing translation as a business, then of course you have to deliver products that are in line with the quality that the customer requests” This is Cultemo’s way of thinking about translation quality.
As words form a natural language, a translation that will be positively rated by all people is not possible.
A translation must be of a quality in line with the requests by the user (normally a customer) and with the intended use and the purpose (requests may include speed, cost, etc.)
“Shedding the skin of self-satisfaction about high levels of quality” Cultemo has been repeatedly speaking about this thought, and in recent years, the number of customers, translators and translation companies agreeing with this idea is increasing.
“We think that quality can be controlled by process. ”
Cost, delivery date and quality are said to be the three elements of translation.
Cost and delivery date are difficult to move, and in many cases this has an effect on quality.
At Cultemo, with “Quality Controlled by Process” as a theme, particular importance is placed on inspection and design of the process.
When a problem has occurred, where in the process the problem occurred is analyzed, and this knowledge is then carried forward to the next project.
It is not relying on people, but rather whether or not a suitable process has been put in place that will affect continuation of a project.
“We have the know-how to deal with 5 million words per year. ”
In 2016, through the introduction of a neural network, the quality of Google Translation increased greatly, and the words “Neural Translation and AI translation” started to receive a great deal of attention.
At Cultemo, ordinarily, “Translation by Humans” is main, but at the requirement of some customers, from 15 years ago, we have been working on machine translation followed by post-editing.
Machine translation has been undergoing development from more than 30 years ago, and with changes from “Rule-Based Translation” to “Statistical-Based Translation” and then “Neural Translation and AI Translation”, along with the changes to algorithms, quality has evolved.
In fact, the process of evolving to Neural/AI Translation has greatly changed the tendencies in translated documents. Great attention is being paid to machine translation, but the number of translation companies that have understood this properly is extremely small.
Cultemo has built a lot of know-how and knowledge through the changes from rule based, then statistical-based and to neural/AI Translation.
Furthermore, for many years we have systematized know-how about machine translation and post editing and have given instruction about this to translators (editors), have given comprehensive feedback about each project, and so at the same time we have been engaged in the task of post editing training.
Many translators have grown into first class translators through post-editing.
Over 200 translators are now registered with Cultemo.
The translators all submit Vendor Information containing around 200 items focused on skills, etc.
This information is put together with reviews of routine work, formatted and managed.
This method is also used in Creative Resources.
This approach allows us to assign resources that match customers’ diverse fields and content.
“We think that creativity requires different skills than translation.”
Cultemo also undertakes planning and design of creative content.
In translation, it is necessary to follow the original document, but especially in the field of marketing, it is necessary to rewrite the contents with the user in mind.
Requests for copy read and write are growing. However, putting exceptions aside, to think of Transcreation merely as an extension of translation is unreasonable.
This is because the skills and talents needed for are completely different.
Therefore, if we receive requests of this type, our company will handle this by assigning a creative resource.
It is important that content of information provided by companies to the outside world is uniform.
Cultemo has a record of consulting about methods for standardization of contents that form the base of the communication of information.
When these methods are linked to document management languages such as XML and DITA, translation memory, or contents management systems, even more effective merits are created.
Cultemo has experience of consulting about contents standardization for a precision instruments manufacture that has a many varied products, and semiconductor manufacture, among others.
Apart from consulting we also hold lecture-style seminars.
We analyze “the useability of the contents from the prospective of users”.
Methods used include useability tests and useability assessments.
A supposed user is specified, and the user’s behavior mental model is constructed and then tests and assessments are carried out, and if required we can design production guidelines.
Cultemo has experience of consulting for a cell phone manufacturer, household appliances maker, and a precision instruments manufacture, among others.
It is no problem to also consult about contents for overseas use.
“Achievements over the last 15 have increase value added services and variations. ”
We can handle planning design creative content such as websites, company guides, catalogs, web content, printed matter, etc.
Furthermore, we are fully prepared for all types of DTP software (InDesign, FrameMaker, Illustrator, Photoshop, MS-Office, etc.).
We will also offer you the best price for composite projects, such as Translation+DTP+Printing.
Through our translation and production services, Cultemo has gained much engineering know-how. Below is a list of the tools and methods that our company can accommodate or provide.
DTP/Web：
InDesign, FrameMaker, Illustrator, Photoshop, MS-Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, etc.
Translation-related tools:
SDL Trados Studio, MemoQ, Across, OmegaT, Memsource, XTM, SmartLing, AppleTrans, Google Translation Toolkit, GlobalSight, Catalyst, Transit, TraTool, HyperHub, Xbench, Passolo, LocStudio, Wordfast, Idiom, TM2/Tmwin/OpenTM2, etc.
Printing Methods:
Offset printing (Standard printing methods)
Offset printing (Printing methods used for such things as net printing)
On-demand printing, Direct printing, etc.
We will respond flexibly regarding the use of tools or file formats other than those above.
From its founding, Cultemo has put a lot of effort into human resources development, given our belief that “Quality of People is Most Important”.
We wondered whether it would be possible to give this knowledge of human resources development some concrete form, and after seeking advice from the Japan Institute of Narrative Therapy, which has run management training for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for many years, we developed three different forms of education courses.
- Management Communication: Communication Skills that are Essential for Managers
- Personal Relations: Communication Skills that are Essential for Business People
- Company Counselling: Investigate and Provide Care for Company Staff Regarding Stress, Motivation, etc.
Using these contents as a base, depending on who it is to be delivered to and aims, Cultemo will customize the courses and provide instruction.
