How are translation memory tools integrated with DITA for agricultural technical documentation?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Integration of translation memory tools with DITA for agricultural technical documentation can significantly improve the efficiency and consistency of the translation process. Translation memory (TM) tools are software applications that store previously translated content and suggest these translations when encountering similar or identical segments in new documents. Here are the key aspects of how TM tools can be integrated into a DITA-based workflow:

TM Tool Compatibility

Firstly, ensure that the selected translation memory tool is compatible with DITA XML format. This compatibility allows the tool to work seamlessly with DITA documents, recognizing the structure and content for translation. Most modern TM tools offer support for DITA, enabling easy integration.

Segment-Level Translation

TM tools operate at a segment or sentence level. When integrating with DITA, content is divided into segments, which can be as small as a sentence or as large as a paragraph. These segments are aligned with their translations in the TM tool’s database. When translating a DITA document, the TM tool identifies matching segments in the database and suggests the corresponding translations, reducing the need for manual translation and ensuring consistency across documents.

Example:

Here’s an example of how a DITA topic with segmented content can be integrated with a translation memory tool:


<topic id="crop_harvesting">
  <title>Crop Harvesting</title>
  <body>
    <segment id="1">Harvesting is the process of gathering crops from the field.</segment>
    <segment id="2">Different crops require specific harvesting techniques.</segment>
    <segment id="3">Proper timing is essential for a successful harvest.</segment>
  </body>

In this example, each segment within the DITA topic can be aligned with its corresponding translation in the TM tool, making it easier to reuse translations and maintain consistency during translation.