Touching base – A brief interview with our employees

Five questions for Marie Otto-Ahn, Senior CAT Specialist

Hello Marie, you work as a Senior CAT Specialist in the Technology team. What does CAT mean and what technologies do you work with?

„CAT is an acronym and stands for computer-aided translation. CAT tools are programs that help linguists while translating by saving translations in the form of small units (so-called segments) in a database and suggesting them again later on. The programs also recognize terminology in the source text and suggest target-language hits from a terminological database. This leads to more consistent and faster translations. At Gemino, we currently work mainly with the CAT tools memoQ and Across, but we can switch to a different tool if our clients require it.
In addition to CAT tools, I also work a lot with word processors, image editors, and video subtitling software – such as MS Word, MS Excel, FrameMaker, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, EZTitles, and more.“

How many people are in your team and what are your tasks?

„There are six of us in the Engineering team. Our job is to analyze, prepare, and post-process translation projects, which involves many different steps. A project always starts with an analysis of the customer request and the data. Sometimes this also means that we have to start by rebuilding a file like a PDF if it’s not in an editable format.
First, we optimize the files that we receive from clients for translation so that they can be optimally processed by the CAT tools. This also includes such exciting tasks as creating transcripts or subtitles when the source text is a voiceover in a video. We create the projects in the CAT tool, import the files, check the segmentation, and create analyses.
We also plan the workflow, which can vary greatly depending on the purpose of the translation, urgency, and budget. We coordinate closely with the other teams from Quality Assurance, Project Management, and DTP/Video Editing – as each project is unique. We clarify questions with the client in advance that are either important for an accurate translation or could lead to delays or queries from linguists later on. We always keep the usability of the translated document in mind. In the case of operating instructions for devices that use software, for example, we have to clarify beforehand whether screenshots will be exchanged and text fields translated. We then request the relevant files and, if necessary, create translation memories (i.e., translation databases) with the pertinent text fields, so that the linguists can research the correct target-language text during the editing process.
Finally, we estimate the work required for DTP and document all project specifications for the various teams in a report.“

Everyone is talking about AI. But many things are still in an experimental phase. Where do you see future areas of application for AI in your field?

„We already utilize AI for translation, auto-transcription, and subtitles – wherever it makes sense. However, especially for projects in regulated industries (e.g., medical technology), a thorough evaluation and consultation with the clients is required. In the near future, I see AI as a valuable support tool in our field, particularly for time-consuming preparatory tasks that are currently performed manually and at great expense. AI could also be used to dynamically implement sophisticated automation processes, which have been impossible up to now or can only be carried out with difficulty using rigid solutions.
And – but perhaps this is a bit far-fetched – AI could be used as a chatbot to which Gemino clients could ask questions on technical topics relating to translation data. We have been documenting a lot of our work for years. This accumulated knowledge could be made available to clients in this way.“

You have been with Gemino for 9 years. What changes have you observed in your area?

„First of all, the team has grown considerably. In the beginning, it was basically just me. (Laughs.)
In addition, the requirements are becoming more complex every year and the projects more multi-layered. Gemino has continuously expanded its range of services over the years, which means that our team is constantly familiarizing itself with new project types and technologies.“

We heard that you are interested in Korean culture and language. What fascinates you most about Korea?

„I became interested in Korean culture through movies. I saw my first Korean movie 25 years ago and it completely blew me away. I had never seen anything like it on German television or in the movie theater. It started with Park Chan-wook and continued over the years with Kim Ki-duk, who is controversial in Korea, as well as Lee Chang-dong and Hong Sang-Soo. And because I always watch movies in the original version with subtitles, I eventually fell in love with the language and started to learn it. For me, the Korean alphabet is the most beautiful in the world. 아름답죠? (It’s beautiful, isn’t it?)
I now have family in Korea. Every time I visit, I’m amazed by the friendliness and generosity of Koreans. And if you’ve never eaten Korean food, you’ve definitely missed out!“

Marie can be reached at +49 30 308788 03 or marie.otto-ahn@gemino.de.