What a translation memory does
A translation memory (TM) is a database of sentence pairs: a source sentence and the translation you confirmed for it. When a new text comes in, the CAT tool looks each sentence up in the memory.
| Match | What it means |
|---|---|
| Exact match | The same sentence was translated before. You check it and confirm. |
| Fuzzy match | A similar sentence was translated before, shown with a percentage and the differences. You edit what changed. |
| Repetition | The same sentence appears again in this project. Translate it once. |
| Concordance | A search of the memory for a word or phrase, to see how you translated it before. |
The result is consistent terminology across years of jobs for the same client, less retyping, and a fair basis for quotes, since many clients pay less for matched words.
Translation memory in Lexora Studio
- Matches as you typeMatches, fragments and glossary terms appear beside the sentence you are on, and each match shows which memory it came from.
- Type-ahead from your memoryPress Tab to take the next word from your memory as you type.
- A memory for each clientKeep every client’s translations apart. Add other memories as read-only reference, with a match penalty if you want one.
- Concordance searchSearch the memory for a word or phrase to see how you translated it before.
- Repetitions filled for youConfirm a sentence and its later repetitions can be filled as drafts.
- Undo means undoUndo a confirmation and its memory entry goes too, so a slip never stays in your memory.
The memory stays fast on large projects: typing stays under 50 ms per keystroke, even in a document of 20,000 segments.
Bring the memories you already have
| Format | From | In Lexora Studio |
|---|---|---|
.sdltm | Trados Studio | Imported in the background, with progress and a cancel button |
.tmx | Any CAT tool, memoQ included | Imported and exported |
.xlsx .csv | Excel and other spreadsheets | Imported and exported |
| Old files | A source and its translation, no memory | Aligned into a new memory |
When an import finishes, Lexora tells you exactly what came in and what was skipped, such as empty or duplicate entries. Tags come in as real tags, so matches work right away. Glossaries come in as TBX 2 and 3, with notes and forbidden terms kept, or as Excel or CSV.
Memory analysis for quotes
Before you start, Lexora counts the project’s words by their best memory match, the basis most clients use for quotes, and counts repetitions apart. The project’s own entries are left out, so the count shows what your existing work covers. Set your rates per client and Lexora turns the analysis into a quote.
Where your memory lives
Your memories and glossaries are saved on your computer, and they work offline. Nothing is uploaded unless you choose to:
- AI translation. In a project where you turned AI on, up to three similar translations from the project’s memories are sent with each segment, so the translation fits. The privacy policy lists exactly what is sent.
- Teams. When you share a project, the team gets a copy of that project’s own work. Your other memories stay on your computer.
- Delivery. When you deliver a memory to a client, it holds that project’s translations unless you choose to include more.
Questions about translation memory
What is the difference between translation memory and machine translation?
A translation memory gives back translations a person already made and confirmed, matched to the sentence you are translating. Machine translation, or AI translation, writes a new translation. In Lexora Studio the memory fills what it can first, for free, and AI is used only when you turn it on for a project.
What is a fuzzy match?
A match from the memory for a sentence that is similar but not identical to the one you are translating, shown with a percentage. An exact match is the same sentence translated before.
Can I import my Trados translation memory?
Yes. Lexora Studio imports Trados .sdltm memories directly, and TMX files from any CAT tool, with tags kept as real tags. See Lexora as a Trados alternative.
Is my translation memory uploaded anywhere?
No. Memories are saved on your computer. If you use AI translation in a project where you turned it on, up to three similar translations from the project’s memories are sent with each segment so the translation fits. If you share a project with a team, the team gets a copy of that project’s own work, not your other memories.
Can I export my memory?
Yes, as TMX, which every major CAT tool reads, or as Excel or CSV.
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Trados, memoQ and the other product names are trademarks of their owners, used here only to name their products. Lexora Studio is independent of these companies and not endorsed by them.