[Freecats-Dev] One or two reflections about the name FreeCATS

[Dave Simons]

Not wanting to start off sounding completely negative, let me say that 
FreeCATS is a really cool sounding name. Let me also add that I've been 
involved with Free Software for a number of years and recognize a lot of 
its strengths and weaknesses.

Now here's what I don't like about the FreeCATS name:

1) It's not a translator oriented name; it's IT oriented. IT people are 
good at giving things names that don't say what they do and then turning 
them into acronyms so they reveal even less. That's why IT companies pay 
marketing people good money to come up with original names like "Word". 
Professional translators are supposed to be a little more lucid than most 
other professions when it comes to the use of vocabulary. We could 
advertise this notable quality of ours by choosing a name that avoids 
clichés and acronyms.

2) The word Free, however accurately it might describe the concept, is 
paradoxically a word with negative connotations in English. Professional 
people who are not involved in free software projects, i.e., most of the 
world, immediately see "free = 0.00 euros" while overlooking the more 
important "free = do as you please". And of course, anything that doesn't 
cost money can't possibly be any good, can it :)

3) As for the CATS (computer-aided translation software) bit: 
Computer-aided is an overused and unnecessary term. People talk about 
computer-aided design whereas nobody ever talked about 
drawing-board-and-slide-rule-aided design. There's hardly likely to be any 
doubt when downloading an application that it's something you run on a 
computer; it's even less likely that anyone needs reminding twice in the 
same phrase that this in in fact "software".

4) O.K., that leaves the word translation. Sorry, but that doesn't make the 
grade either. We're not really talking about a translation application, are 
we. We're talking about a productivity and consistency application. How 
many people will imagine that this is some kind of automatic translation 
program? Worse, how many customers might jump to the same conclusion when a 
translator/agency advertises the name of the tools it is using?

So what do I think it should be called? Well if I used it when translating 
I'd consider it my assistant, so I guess I'd call it "Translator's 
Assistant" or "Translator's Friend". If I was using it in the context of a 
multi-translator translation project, I'd probably call it "Translation 
Organizer." If I wanted to sell the idea to a management consultant I'd 
call it "Speedsure Translation Booster" or some other high falutin' name.

That's just my two penn'orth (or $0.02 if you prefer y'all). I'm sure 
someone can think of a perfect name for this project.
Of course, in the end I'll go along with whatever name is used, even 
FreeCATS :-)

Dave Simons