A discussion about translation services, translators, and translation software

On occasion I've had to translate the gist of a document immediately (in other words, do a sight translation) for a concerned client, following up later with a more polished hardcopy version.  In truth, for many documents, sight translation can be a quick and effective way to get the job done even if there is no urgency. 

The early courses in the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation at the Monterey Institute of International Studies include “practice and graded exercises in sight and written translation”. 
Students of translation learn that the smallest safely cohesive piece of language to translate is the phrase.  Phrases are necessarily integral.  While attention must be paid to the context to determine level of speech and to govern word choice, a phrase is a good place to start piecing the whole work together.

To exercise their minds, students are taught to read quickly ahead to find the end of the next phrase.  Even while speaking (dictating?) the translation of one phrase, they are sizing up the next and beginning to consider translation options.

Without delving too deeply into linguistic considerations (unless necessary), and short of machine-assisted translation (which will be considered separately as time goes on), send me your tricks of the trade to speed the work along, and I'll give them space.