FAQ

  • We have only a PDF and cannot obtain its source file. Can you translate and format it same as the original PDF?

    Yes, we can localize the content and format it the same way as the original source PDF.

  • We have source files and 2 outputs (PDF and Online Help) created with MadCap Flare. Can you localize these contents and compile them? We need both PDF and Online Help in target, too.

    Yes. We can localize them and create the same outputs as sources. In most cases, source contents are not cleaned, and include many unnecessary files. We carefully pick up only the necessary files to localize, so that you will not waste time and money in translating unnecessary files.

    We have been appreciated by our clients for our special knowledge/skills, especially for fixing Japanese specific conversion issues. Multilingual localization of these contents is possible by our partner companies. Please contact us for detail.

  • We often hear Japanese machine translation is now ready for actual use. But we do not know how to adopt it. Can you help?

    Sure! We have been using various machine translation engines. We are not only adopting machine translation, but also suggesting most effective pre-process and post-process, which bring you further cost reduction and short turn around.

  • We have English and Japanese documents, which were formerly localized. Is it possible to use these legacy contents and reduce future localization cost?

    Yes, it is possible. First, we will create a database (translation memory) from the formerly localized documents. Then compare (leverage) your new source with the database. Reusing the former contents, even if it is part of a sentence, you can reduce your localization cost. And you will be able to unite styles, tones referring to the former translation.

  • User interface and messages in a localized application do not match the context. Will you check them and correct if necessary?

    Sure! We have many experiences in this kind of linguistic QA. We install the application on our virtual environment and check if translation is appropriate in the context. Please contact us.

  • Source contents had been created in various location without referring to any specific guideline. As a result, the contents are not well organized. Styles are not united, many similar expression with same meaning is used. Will you REWRITE the source contents for better localization flow using CAT tools?

    Yes! This is our unique service. We create a styleguide and rewrite source contents.

  • We often hear that Computer Aided Translation (CAT) tool will help us to reduce cost. We would love to adopt it, but no idea how. Will you support us? Also, can you explain how the cost will be reduced? We want to know the mechanism.

    Our well experienced coordinators will help you to adopt appropriate CAT tools.
    The mechanism to reduce cost is quite simple.
    For example, you see a sentence “This is a pen.”
    Translation should be 「これはペンです。」
    If another content includes a sentence “This is an apple.”, all you need to do is to replace translation of “an apple” with 「ペン」.
    Not sure how much percent your CAT tool will show. But the rule is that we will follow the algorism of each CAT Tool
    According to the matched percent, unit price will be reduced like
    for 0-74% matched content will be 100% of the unit price,
    for 75-84%, 60%,
    for 85-94%, 40%,
    for 95-99%, 30%,
    for 100%, 10% or no need to review.
    (Actual figure will be discussed between our client and our coordinator.)

    Accumulated legacy will also help you to unite translation style and terminology.
    We are adopting many CAT tools (Desktop basis: SDL Studio, Idiom, Passolo (for software) and Cloud basis: Smartling, Lingotek etc.).

  • Not sure the difference between computer aided translation tool and machine translation.

    They are completely different though they are connecting each other now.
    Localization flow using machine translation is….
    We choose a machine translation engine (could be BeGlobal or Microsoft Hub), then train the engine with related projects legacy. Its output will be tamed from this train and more appropriate if you compare with outputs from NON-trained engine. After applying MT, translators will do “Post Edit”.

    On the other hand, localization flow using CAT Tool is….
    First, we create a database (translation memory) which includes source & target pairs. Once the source sentence is updated or you want to translate similar sentence, CAT tool compares (leverages) the new sentence with the existing pair and shows us the difference between old and updated sentences. The difference should be translated BY HUMAN.
    On either case, final process should be done BY HUMAN if you request premium quality.

  • Which language are you handling?

    We are focusing on directions either “English to Japanese” or “Japanese to English”. We can handle multi-lingual projects, but this will be done by our partner companies.

  • Can you handle localization of movie contents? How about the case that the content does not have its script?

    Yes, we can. We have been handling many such projects as movies showing at Messe, Webinar and Company homepages, YouTube contents. We dictate scripts, translate them and insert them as localized scripts with adjusting length.