As for any other information professionals, a wide range of information and communication technologies (ICT) are available to translators today, both in terms of general purpose tools and resources, and in terms of specialised aids that can be used by them. Computer-aided translation (CAT) tools are probably the clearest example of translator-specific computer tools designed to increase their productivity and efficiency, and thus helping them to meet the demand for their services. While there has been much discussion among translators and other stakeholders of the language market about how translators make use of available ICT and information resources, as well as about the suitability of using software like CAT tools, few studies have empirically investigated their use by this community of practice. Research has rather focused on how translators should organise their working environment, how to automate translation processes, and the analysis of the technical features of CAT tools, or their use in large translation departments.

This book draws on previous empirical research undertaken to investigate the uptake of ICT, and CAT tools in particular, by freelance translators based in the UK and their perceptions on the latter¹ to frame their use of information and technology within an Information Systems (IS) and an Information Literacy (IL) paradigm that allows an explanation of their working life environment. In other words, the aim of this work is to provide practitioners with a broad and strategic perspective of how information and technology can help them exploit their ICT resources to become more productive and competitive in today’s market. It is envisaged that the information in this book might not only be of interest to experienced and newly qualified translators, translators’ educators, professional bodies for translators, and developers of CAT tools, but also to a wider audience of information-related businesses and information literacy educators. Although the focus is placed on the practice side, theoretical and methodological contributions are also present and this book also aims to nourish existing research, both in the translation studies and information management fields, with a research framework and models about ICT adoption and usage and a validation of instruments to measure ICT adoption based on empirical evidence.

The book is divided into three interrelated parts. In the first one, the background and context information is provided through a literature review of translation processes, technology, information literacy and information systems issues; i.e. a state of the art is focused on information and technology needs among multilingual information professionals. The second part of the book is the core element of this work and addresses the topics under study by applying research methods to investigate the perceptions of the translators’ community of practice; i.e. translators’ perspectives towards their use of information and technology are discussed in relation to their working environment by drawing on the findings of the empirical research work undertaken, the research framework and methodology designed to this end, and an interdisciplinary review of the literature. Last but not least, the third part of the book is aimed at bridging the gap between the needs of multilingual information professionals and their perspectives of information and technology by leading the discussion towards a strategic proposal for applying an IS approach to their work, outlining implications for translators’ practice and training.