memoQ is a popular CAT tool (Computer-Assisted Translation) that assists translators and projects managers with their translation projects. However, the CAT tool memoQ is not to be confused with a machine translator. memoQ doesn’t actually translate the content of a document but instead provides a number of helpful tools which facilitate translation work and contribute to quality assurance.
memoQ is considered to be a user-friendly and adaptive CAT tool. It is for Windows and it is available in two different versions. The memoQ server is designed for companies and language service providers while memoQ translator pro targets freelance translators.
memoQ also offers the memoQ cloud. This way, companies can set up their server in the cloud. This has the advantage of easy scalability – the cloud grows with your business – and you only pay for the services you actually need.
As a language service provider, we at EHLION work with different CAT tools every day, and we also offer CAT tool training to help companies to get the most out of their CAT tool and choose the right one for their needs.
In this article, we will tell you all about the functions, application possibilities, and cost of memoQ.
Furthermore, we have put together a series of articles with the most important CAT tools on the market so you can easily compare the functions, costs, and special features of each CAT tool.
Click on the links to read more about Across, SDL Trados, Memsource, and Smartcat.
memoQ – Features and Application Possibilities
When it comes to the most important functions, most CAT tools offer similar ones. This is why it is often small things that make a huge difference. For example, memoQ offers a desktop and a browser version, which isn’t always the case with other CAT tools
This way you can use memoQ on every computer without the need to install it locally. The memoQ version that can be used in your web browser is called memoQWebTrans.
Below we will give you an overview of the functions of memoQ Translator Pro, and if you want to know, how the CAT-Tool works in more detail, you can check out this video: “Getting started with memoQ for Translators”.
User interface & Languages
The source text and the matching translation are displayed in two columns and the translator can type their translation in the column right next to the source text, which unfortunately isn’t possible with every CAT tool (for example with Across Translator Edition)
In total, memoQ supports more than 130 languages. Amongst them, widely spoken languages like English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, or German, but also uncommon languages like Yiddish and Maltese. A list of all the available languages can be found here.
While 130 languages are not bad, competitors tend to support a wider range of languages, for example, Memsource supports more than 500 languages.
File formats and Previews
Below the columns, the user can activate a preview of the document. Here the text is displayed as formatted. The file preview is available for most file formats, however not for all, for example, there is no preview available for FrameMaker or XML.
memoQ can process various file formats and reconvert the content into others after a translation is completed.
Examples of file formats that can be processed with memoQ:
- MS Office-Dateien
- OpenOffice
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe FrameMaker
- WordPress
- Typo 3
- HTML and XML
- .ttx
Hey memoQ
“Hey memoQ” is an application for iOS and can be used for free by everyone, who owns a license for memoQ Translator Pro.
Translators can use it to dictate their translation either via their iPhone or iPad. “Hey, memoQ” supports more than 30 languages.
Translation Memory and Termbase
Translation memory and terminology management are two features no professional CAT tool can do without. Therefore, they are of course available for memoQ.
As the word already indicates a “translation memory” is like the memory of the translator, it is a database where source texts are saved together with their translation.
In case the translation memory detects a match, it will be displayed to the translator. “Match” in this case means that a sentence or a phrase in the source text matches a sentence that has already been translated and saved in the translation memory. Translation memories can also save the end client money as the translator can save time as they don’t have to translate the same sentence twice.
memoQ provides further information about those matches like the author, the name of the document, and the date of creation.
A database that saves terminology and related information is also called a termbase. A memoQ termbase works similar to translation memory and information is displayed to the translator, whenever there is a match with the memoQ termbase.
Integration of machine translation
At the moment memoQ supports more than 10 plugins from different machine translation services such as Google Translate, KantanMT, DeepL, and SYSTRAN.
Machine translation results however always need post-editing by a professional human translator as even if machine translation has massively improved over the recent years, machines still have their limits. This is why post-editing through a professional human translator is needed to fix errors and to adapt the text to human standards.
memoQ – Cost
The license for memoQ translator pro is available for 620 Euro or 770 USD.
A memoQ free trial version is available for 30 days. This trial version is the full version of memoQ translator pro. After the trial version has expired the memoQ translator pro will automatically be downgraded to memoQ translator free. This version, however, doesn’t allow access to many of the functions the full version provides. Therefore, it is not designed for full-time translators, who are looking for a CAT tool to work with on a daily basis.
memoQ download
memoQ Traning
To make the most out of the functions memoQ has to offer there are different options for further education. On the memoQ YouTube channel, you can find some video tutorials.
Furthermore, memoQ offers free online tutorials for translators and project managers on their website.
Conclusion – memoQ, a solid CAT tool
memoQ is a solid CAT tool, which, when used in the right way, can facilitate and speed up the translation process.
Here are the most important features and advantages summed up:
- supports more than 130 languages
- supports various file formats + file preview
- termbase
- translation memory
- the possibility to integrate machine translators
- desktop- and browser version
- dictate translations with Hey memoQ
- user-friendly
memoQ is an all-around successful and popular translation environment. However, SDL Trados is currently the market leader. One should be aware that when using memoQ, you can only work with companies that have a memoQ server. This, however, doesn’t have to be a disadvantage, it’s simply something to keep in mind.
Are you new to the field of CAT tools? Then you might be interested to learn about CAT tools in more detail in our article “What are CAT tools?”.
Apart from CAT tool training EHLION offers a wide range of language services such as professional translations, website localisation, or technical translations.
Feel free to reach out to our experienced project managers, who are happy to help you with your next translation project! Contact us.
