This feature aligns the sentences in two files. Translators need to study differences between an original and a translation. Other linguists might want it to study differences between two versions of a text in the same language. Students of different languages can use it as they might use dual language readings, to study closely the differences e.g. in word order.

It helps you produce a new text which consists of the two files, with sentences interspersed. That way you can compare the translation with the original.

 

How to do it

Use File | Merge with to bring a .vwr file into your .vwr or .ali file on screen.

 

Example

Original : Der Knabe sagte diesen Gedanken dem Schwesterchen, und diese folgte. Allein auch der Weg auf den Hals hinab war nicht zu finden. So klar die Sonne schien, ...(from Stifter's Bergkristall, translated by Harry Steinhauer, in German Stories, Bantam Books 1961)

Translation: The boy communicated this thought to his sister and she followed him. But the road down the neck could not be found either. Though the sun shone clearly, ...

 

Aligned text:

<G1> Der Knabe sagte diesen Gedanken dem Schwesterchen, und diese folgte.

<E1> The boy communicated this thought to his sister and she followed him.

<G2> Allein auch der Weg auf den Hals hinab war nicht zu finden.

<E2> But the road down the neck could not be found either.

<G3> So klar die Sonne schien, ...

<E3> Though the sun shone clearly, ...

 

An aligned text like this helps you identify additions and omissions, normalisations, style changes, word order preferences. In this case the translator has chosen to avoid very close equivalence.

 

See also: an example of aligning, Aligning and moving