CatScribe Docs

#Translating Books

Book translation is a long project. The main challenge is not only translating each sentence, but keeping names, voice, terminology, and formatting consistent from beginning to end.

  • Work by chapter, scene, or section.
  • Keep one glossary group for the book or series.
  • Save notes for names, titles, honorifics, and style decisions.
  • Translate in repeatable passes instead of trying to finish everything in one run.
  • Export and inspect samples before processing the full book.

#Step-By-Step Book Workflow

  1. Prepare a clean source file.
  2. Create a project glossary with key names and terms.
  3. Translate one chapter as a sample.
  4. Review meaning and formatting in the CAT Editor.
  5. Add glossary terms discovered during review.
  6. Translate the next chapter.
  7. Run a consistency pass across completed chapters.
  8. Use AI refinement only where the draft is awkward or uneven.
  9. Export and inspect the final file in the expected reading app.

#Suggested Passes

Pass Goal What to check
First pass Create a complete draft Meaning, missing text, obvious errors
Consistency pass Stabilize the book Names, places, titles, repeated phrases
Style pass Improve readability Dialogue, narration, register, rhythm
Export pass Confirm deliverability Formatting, chapter order, headings, footnotes

#Chunk Sizing Strategy

Use smaller chunks when:

  • The source has complex formatting.
  • Your computer is slow with large batches.
  • The text has many tags, footnotes, or tables.
  • You want easier retries.

Use larger chunks when:

  • Context matters heavily.
  • The source is clean prose.
  • Your hardware handles the workload comfortably.

Do not change chunk strategy in the middle of a critical review unless you are testing a specific issue.

#Production Tip

Treat each pass as a separate quality gate. Fixing terminology before style review prevents repeated rework and helps keep the final book coherent.