📘 Key terms to know when using Redokun

This page defines key terms used in Redokun's translation workflow, ensuring clarity and consistency for all users.

🔄 Translation Concepts and Features

Translation Memory (TM)

A database that stores previously translated segments (source and target pairs). Redokun uses the TM in the Web Editor to suggest reuse of past translations, improving consistency, and in the Pre-translate phase, reducing repeated work. Learn more about Translation Memory →

Pre-translate

An automation feature that fills in translations for a document using existing resources. Redokun’s Pre-Translate can leverage previously approved translations from your TM and/or AI Translation. Learn more about Pre-translate →

AI Translation

Translation generated by Artificial Intelligence. This includes both traditional machine translation engines and newer, more advanced models like large language models (LLMs), such as OpenAI (ChatGPT).

At Redokun, AI Translation refers to all automatic translations powered by AI — including suggestions from Google Translate, DeepL, and LLM-based tools. These translations can be used as a starting point and then refined by human translators.

While AI Translation is more advanced, MT remains useful for simpler or high-volume tasks where contextual nuance is less critical. Learn more about AI Translations →

Machine Translation (MT)

An earlier term used to describe automatic translations generated by rule-based or statistical AI engines, such as Google Translate and DeepL.

Redokun previously used Machine Translation (MT) to refer to these tools, but we now use the broader term AI Translation to reflect our support for both traditional MT and newer LLM-based technologies.

Glossary

A customizable list of organization-specific terms and their approved translations. Glossary terms are underlined during translation, and Redokun can check for correct usage. These terms are also used to improve AI translations. Learn more about Glossary →

Revision (Document Revision)

An updated version of a source document. Redokun retains existing translations and flags only the changed content. Redokun does not currently support full version rollback but highlights differences between revisions. Learn more about uploading a new Revision →

Tag

A placeholder for formatting (like bold or italics) in the Web Editor. Tags look like a pink/orange numbered square: [1], [2], etc… they must be placed correctly to preserve document layout. Learn more about Tags →

Marker

Placeholders for special characters or inline elements. They look similar to tags, but they are blue with a descriptive name instead of a number: [soft return], [thin space], etc... Optional, unless the content must appear in the translated output. Learn more about Markers →

Placeholders

Tags and markers used within segments.

Language Pair

The source and target language combination (e.g., English > Italian). TMs and Glossaries are organized by language pair.

🔍 Translation Context and Segment Status

Segment

A unit of text divided for translation. It usually consists of a sentence or phrase. Redokun breaks your document into segments to facilitate the translation.

Context

Refers to the surrounding text or situation of a segment. Redokun considers context when suggesting TM matches.

Match Rate

The percentage of a segment that matches a suggestion in the Translation Memory, ranging from 100% (exact match) to lower percentages (fuzzy matches).

100% Match

100% matches occur when a source segment you're currently translating is identical to another source segment your team has translated before and is saved in your TM.

100% Match with Same Context​

A 100% Match with Same Context occurs when both of the following conditions are met:

• A source segment you're currently translating is identical to another source segment your team has translated before and is saved in your TM.
• The source segment in both the new document and the old document share the same surrounding segments (context).

Fuzzy Match

A Translation Memory match where the suggested segment is similar but not identical to the current text, typically expressed as a percentage.

Confirmed (translation status)

A segment that has been reviewed and approved. Confirmed segments are stored in the TM.

Draft (translation status)

A saved but unconfirmed segment that requires review. Often the result of MT or unconfirmed edits. Draft segments are NOT stored in the TM.

Post-editing

The process of reviewing and correcting machine-translated content. Used when MT is employed to ensure the final translation meets quality standards.

Post-editing is often used when deadlines are tight or budgets are limited, allowing teams to leverage MT before final human review.

📄 Document Management, Formats, and Integrations

Document List

The dashboard showing all accessible projects. Allows uploading documents, tracking progress, and organizing content.

Document Detail

A view in Redokun where you manage everything related to a specific document. Once you click on a document in the Document List, this page becomes your workspace for tracking progress, managing collaborators, and preparing translations.

Exchange File

A file format (e.g., XLIFF, Excel) used to exchange content for offline translation.

Redokun InDesign Extension

A plugin that improves InDesign integration by enabling preview generation and faster uploads.

👥 User Roles and Collaboration

Team

A group of users working under a shared account. Teams can share documents, TMs, and glossaries.

Seats

The number of users that can join a team, divided into Manager seats and Translator seats.

Translator

A user assigned to translate documents. Can only see and work on documents shared with them.

Manager

A user with broader permissions who can upload documents, assign translators, and manage TMs and glossaries.

Team Leader – Team Owner (Admin)

The primary account holder with administrative access. Can manage team settings and billing.

Document Owner

The user who uploaded the document. Can assign translators and finalize translations.

Reviewer

Someone who checks translations for quality. May use a Translator or Manager account.

📈 Metrics and Reporting

Word Count – Words Included

The total number of units in a document, used for scoping work, estimating costs, and determining effort. For most languages, this refers to the number of words. However, in languages like Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, it refers to the number of characters or symbols, as these languages do not use spaces to separate words in the same way as alphabetic languages.

📁 File Formats

InDesign Files (INDD)

The primary file format used by Adobe InDesign, a popular tool for designing documents. These files contain the complete design elements and are used for creating rich, formatted documents.

IDML (InDesign Markup Language)

A more versatile exchange format that can be exported by InDesign. It allows compatibility with Redokun. It's quick and easy to convert an INDD file to IDML directly from within InDesign, and just as easy to open an IDML file in InDesign and save it back as an INDD.

XLIFF (XML Localization Interchange File Format)

A standard format used to exchange localization data between different tools. It is widely used in translation workflows to simplify the import/export of translations.

TMX (Translation Memory eXchange)

A standard file format for exchanging translation memory data between different translation tools, ensuring compatibility and reusability across platforms.

🌐 Other Industry-Related Terms

LSP (Language Service Provider)

Also known as Translation Agencies, these are organizations that provide translation and localization services to clients, often employing professional translators and utilizing CAT tools.

Proofreading

The process of reviewing the final text to ensure it's error-free and consistent. In translation, it ensures the final text is error-free and consistent by reviewing grammar, spelling, punctuation, and alignment with the source and target language nuances. This is sometimes carried out by another translator.

Translation Alignment (Alignment)

The process of matching segments of text in one language with their corresponding translations in another to produce a Translation Memory (TM) file. This is useful when transitioning from past translations to a new system or tool.

Round-Tripping

The process of exporting a file from one tool (e.g., a TMS) for translation and then re-importing the translated file back into the original tool (e.g., InDesign) while preserving formatting and structure.

CAT Tool (Computer-Assisted Translation Tool)

Software that helps translators work more efficiently by providing features like translation memory, terminology management, and automated suggestions. CAT tools enhance consistency and speed in the translation process.

🛠️ More about Context in Redokun

What is Context?

The term "context" simply refers to the text surrounding a particular text segment.

What is a 100% Match?

100% matches occur when a source segment you're currently translating is identical to another source segment your team has translated before.

In these cases, you can usually reuse the same translation with a good amount of confidence.

What is a 100% Match with Same Context?

This is same as the above but it takes the matching algorithm a step further.

A 100% Match with Same Context occurs when both of the following conditions are met:

• A source segment you're currently translating is identical to another source segment your team has translated before.
• The source segment in both the new document and the old document share the same surrounding segments (context).

Compared to a 100% Match, translations marked as 100% Match with Same Context have an even higher likelihood of being accurate and on-topic.

The following visual highlights which segments are considered in determining whether there is a 100% Match or 100% Match with Same Context.