How TRB4 works
TRB4 is a webservice that allows you to find translators in two different ways:
1. Search based on uniquely identifiable documents
This type of search is designed for published documents that have some unique identifier such as a number or a title.
Here is a general example: Basic patent search
TRB4 gives translators the opportunity to input basic information about documents they have translated in the past. Translators can also "crawl" the web and find useful documents that have been previously translated and enter this information into TRB4. When a translation consumer needs a translation of the same document, the consumer can contact the TRB4 translator and discuss obtaining the translation. Here is an example that includes the actual URL of the translation: Translation of form available on web
Example: Patent translators might input the original title of a patent they have translated with the patent number and the translated title. Translation consumers can search TRB4 to find out if anyone has previously translated the patent they need (or a related patent).
Here is an example of a translator who specializes in electrical engineering patents: Patent translator with specialization
Besides patents, this type of search is also useful for finding translators who have translated government documents (laws, regulations, standards, forms, etc.), medical forms, company boilerplate, manuals, press releases, historical texts, literary works and more.
2. Search based on generalized translation projects
Some types of documents aren't uniquely identifiable and don't fit into the category above. But TRB4 uses a standardized way of characterizing such translation projects known as a “T-Record” which is ideal for both types of translation projects.
A T-Record can mention the company that originally created the document, the type of document, a description of the content and more.
This means you could search, for example, for a English-Spanish translator who has translated specifications for offshore drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. If one or more translators have experience in this area, you can quickly find them using the TRB4 service.
Over time, each translator builds a “TRB4 CV” by inputting a series of T-Records describing the documents he or she has translated in the past.
The overall result? A superior tool that helps you to find the best translator for a given project.
See also our Frequently asked questions.