Sharing of translation memory databases derived from aligned parallel text

Abstract

Translation memory databases are used in order to avoid unnecessary retranslation of previously translated segments of text by automatic lookup and retrieval. Various commercial and in-house translation memory lookup tools derive translation memory databases from aligned parallel texts, but each tool uses a different internal representation for its translation memory database. In response to end-user requests, several developers of translation memory lookup tools have cooperated to define a standard intermediate format for exchanging translation memory databases from one translation technology application to another. This intermediate format, called TMX (Translation Memory eXchange), is an XML application and is thus platform independent and inspectable using a text editor. TMX can also be used as an intermediate format for aligned parallel texts in general, supporting reconstruction of original texts and optional separation of text and markup thanks to meta-markup tags. TMX was developed by OSCAR (Open Standards for Container/content Allowing Re-use), which is the data exchange standards group of LISA (Localization Industry Standards Association). The chapter describes translation memory databases, explains how they are used in the translation industry, and comments on the standard itself.