This follows in the footsteps of a similar initiative by Pons last fall, when they placed their foreign language dictionaries online at www.pons.eu free of charge, a service utilized by more than 1.25 million users each day. The site follows Wikipedia’s model of user participation in the continuing development of the dictionaries, thereby rendering them more and more precise each and every day.

Philipp Haußmann, Klett’s Chairman, believes that it is time to say goodbye to the notion of fitting the world between the covers of a book, even though his group of businesses is the Germany’s second largest book publisher. Even materials for school are no longer just printed matter, rather, new school books are shipped together with the corresponding software.

Duden also has recognized that electronics are changing the publishing world. They stopped producing the print edition of their comprehensive Brockhaus dictionary in 2008 already. But this is different from free online access: “There is no need to give quality away for free,” their company speaker said. “The actual revolution rather is in correction. That’s the problem’s solution.” And Duden has a program available for just this purpose. “Of course we want to make money with it. But some day we might even make it available free of charge on the Internet, too.”

Another FAZ.NET article indicates that Duden publishers was acquired by Cornelsen which has also been publishing the “Wahrig” one of the foremost competing German orthographic dictionaries competing with the orthographic Duden. It stands to reason that – in the long run – there will be synergies from having both of these powerhouses under the same roof.

For now, though, Wahrig’s approach to handling and highlighting the reformed orthographic rules is conforms more closely to the official guidance, whereas the Duden’s 25th edition has dropped the highlighting and also no longer includes the official guidance which can still be found in the Wahrig.

Users who would like to entertain themselves with a free Duden screen saver featuring 125 of 5,000 new entries included in the 25 edition of the orthographic Duden dictionary can download it here.

One of Google’s self-proclaimed focal points with this move is the preservation and revitalization of small and minority languages. To this end, Google cooperated with Māori language activist and senior lecturer in computer science at the University of Waikato Dr. Te Taka Keegan who researched how tools for computer-aided translation can aid in the preservation of minority languages.

Backed by 45 international companies, the TAUS Data Association (TDA) was then founded in the summer of 2008 to provide for such a giant multilingual database.

While joining TDA might not be justifiable for some businesses (both translation buyers and language service providers) and individual translators, even though it would provide them with improved access to the data, the TDA Search Engine provides non-members with a method of benefiting to a certain extent from the same pool of data, albeit not by automated means, such as translation memories, afforded to paying members.

To assess whether a TDA membership would be worth your while, take a look at the TDA Member Regulations.

In the meantime, enjoy the benefits of the TDA Search Engine directly on your desktop with the help of the TAUS Widget. Please note that the unlimited free use of the TAUS Widget requires free registration.

The system requirements for TAUS Widget are:

• Operating System: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac OS X 10.5.7, Debian Linux, Redhat Linux
• Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6: 1.6.0_x

The terminology and linguistic databank of the Government of Canada, is now providing Canadians (and other users, for all practical matters) free of charge with access to TERMIUM Plus and its writing tools.

Access is provided through the Language Portal of Canada, termed the first national website showcasing Canada’s language expertise.

If you have a paid subscription to TERMIUM Plus and are eligible for a refund, you will receive a cheque in the mail by the end of the year. The Translation Bureau of the Public Works and Government Services Canada kindly asks you to not contact them in this regard since they know how to get in touch with you.

This newsletter can be enjoyed by itself or as a companion to Jost’s Tool Box eBook, equally packed with technical tips and tricks of the trade.

It also serves as a great way of staying up-to-date on industry trends, especially with respect to computer-based tools.

The Tool Kit is available in two versions:

• The Standard Edition, which is a FREE subscription (at the expense of one or more article(s) and/or feature(s) less than the Premium Edition.
• The Premium Edition, which at the time of this writing costs $15 per year when purchased by itself (when purchasing Jost’s Tool Box eBook, a free one year subscription to the Tool Kit’s Premium Edition is included.

To check out a sampling from earlier newsletters, click here.

This excellent eBook provides a wealth of information for any translator, be it that they are just entering the field or that they have lots of experience with most aspects of the trade.

After all, it’s not enough to simply have the right tools for the job – you’ve also got to know just how to use them. This is where Jost’s hands-on experience as a working translator comes into play, providing you with expert advice on which software tools will help you to save time (and make more money), explaining the best ways to use these tools and also pointing out which popular tools you might as well do without.

The extensive research that went into the development of this valuable publication is one of the main reasons that this publication is a valuable addition to any translator’s (electronic) bookshelf.

New in version 7 are: Standalone terminology tools, computer-assiste translation tools categorization, alignment, translation memory maintenance, dealing with graphics and much more.

Among the highlights of the Tool Box are:

• Specific instructions for fine-tuning your operating system so it works best for you.
• A library of freeware and shareware programs that allow you to operate more efficiently—and advice on which applications to avoid at any price.
• Criteria to determine if you need desktop publishing and graphic software—and ways to finance it while attracting new clients.
• An insider’s guide to computer-assisted translation tools—what they are and how they can work for you.
• How to translate complex file formats, including XML, help systems, desktop publishing formats, database content, and software development formats.
• Quality assurance procedures and tools for translation environment tools.
• How to work with Windows Vista and Office 2007.
• All you need to know to guard yourself against spam, viruses, phishing, and the many other Internet threats.

To take a look at its table of contents as well as its comprehensive index, click here.