What Is the Translation Technologies Laboratory? / What Is Its Purpose?
Üsküdar University Translation Technologies Laboratory is an advanced technology and application center that aims to train professional translators and interpreters who can use modern software and cloud-based translation infrastructures in accordance with the requirements of the globalizing and digitalizing language industry.
- Main Purpose: To integrate students’ theoretical knowledge of linguistics and translation theory with computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, localization processes, subtitling/dubbing terminologies, and artificial intelligence-supported machine translation (MT) systems, transforming this knowledge into practical professional competencies.
- Academic Contribution: The laboratory develops high academic and professional standards in the field of digital language technologies by enabling students to manage translation memories in the nature of big data, create terminology databases, and simulate project management cycles.
Devices and Technical Equipment Available in the Laboratory
The laboratory infrastructure includes licensed professional software used by global language and localization companies, as well as high-performance computing hardware. Within the framework of Key Features, the laboratory equipment includes:
- High-Performance Workstations and Computer Networks: User computers capable of running multilingual processing databases, large-scale translation memories, and professional design/localization programs with zero latency.
- Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) Software: Licenses for up-to-date CAT tools that automate translation processes, provide segment-based matching, and are industry standards in the language sector (SDL Trados Studio, MemoQ, or cloud-based Memsource/Phrase systems).
- Localization Software Packages: Technical tools that enable software, websites, and mobile applications to be adapted to different languages and cultures without damaging their source codes.
- Subtitle and Multimedia Translation Tools: Professional editing software used in audiovisual translation (AVT), time-coding, subtitle synchronization, and transcription processes.
- High-Resolution Presentation and Projection Systems: Visual equipment that enables instructors to display project management interfaces, terminology lists, and source/target text comparison analyses to the entire class without any loss of detail.
Research Areas and Areas of Application
The practical courses conducted and academic projects carried out in the laboratory cover the most dynamic areas of the modern language industry:
- Computer-Assisted Translation and Memory Management: Creation, maintenance, cleaning, and inter-project data transfer processes of translation memories (TM).
- Software, Game, and Website Localization: The technically and culturally flawless adaptation of interface elements, menus, cultural elements, and code blocks of digital products into the target language.
- Terminology and Termbase Creation: The compilation and management of standard technical terminology dictionaries (TermBase) in digital environments on a sectoral basis (law, medicine, engineering, automotive, etc.).
- Machine Translation Post-Editing: The process of reviewing raw translations produced by artificial intelligence and neural machine translation (NMT) engines in terms of grammar, style, and accuracy by human translators and bringing them to a professional level.
Contributions to Students and the Industry
The Translation Technologies Laboratory takes students beyond the traditional boundaries of translation and introduces them to the industry as "Translation Technologists" and "Project Managers" capable of competing in the global market.
- Industrial Workflow Culture: Students personally experience all stages of a project in the laboratory, from the quotation stage to source preparation, from translation distribution to quality control (QA) and delivery.
- Qualified Workforce: Students who graduate with proficiency in the digital tools and software used in this laboratory can rapidly find employment as "Translator/Interpreter," "Localization Specialist," "Translation Project Manager," or "Localization Engineer" in international translation companies, localization companies, game development studios, media organizations, and the foreign relations departments of corporate companies.
