Human vs. Machine Translation
There are many translation options considering the needs and specifications of clients. Choosing the right process for you will require some research. Many software options exist, and it is wise to do your own research when it comes to using machine translation. It may greatly reduce costs and, depending on the language pair and subject matter, can be very accurate. But it could also lead to very inaccurate translations making it quite unreliable. Likewise it is important to do your own research when choosing a professional linguist. As with many things each option has its pros and cons.
Human translation is by far the better option where context is important. While machine translation shines when it comes to words & short phrases, for the time being, artificial intelligence is best suited augmenting the translation process. Combined with human oversight it could greatly speed up projects resulting in excellent, swift translations.
About Machine Translation
Love it or hate it, machine translation is here to stay and can be useful for the translation process. It is best suited to process simple words and phrases in uncomplicated contexts that are unlikely to be interpreted in several different ways. However, using it to translate entire documents may cause the loss of professional integrity.
Professional linguists are able to handle challenging tasks and produce quality results. Whereas, machine translation may not be able to interpret an accurate scope of the client’s requirements. It will most likely produce a product that serves the basic translation needs of the majority use case.
The effectiveness of machine translations often depends on the source & target language. Machine translation engines can leave a translated document incomprehensible, in some cases requiring more work correcting it than if done by a human from the start. Another consideration is the complexity of the text in the target language. Not all languages are available, or accurate, when translated using machine translation leaving the translator with little option but to do a manual re-translation.
While the cost may be considerably less, the quality of the product often leaves much to be desired. Choosing a linguist that specializes in the client’s field over a generic translation may be the wiser choice. This will ensure that the translation is accurate and relevant to the text’s audience.
The quality of machine translation engines is improving, but mistakes are still common. Mistranslation occurs and in such cases a human translator will need to review & correct the final translation. The message might get lost or change if translated word for word. Whereas a human translator will be able to gain context and maintain the integrity of the text.
Does It Make Sense to Use Machine Translation?
Machine translation uses algorithms to recognize and translate text. This makes it excellent for word-to-word translation. However, phrases, sentences and paragraphs have much more complexity. Translating emotions, puns, and deep context is not easy to do and software will not always produce the desired results. A human can grasp the context and emotion of the words and produce a much better end product.
Due to the nature of artificial intelligence, sharing translation data can be a security concern. Some documents are confidential and users should be aware of what data gets shared. In some cases switching to alternative software or to a human translator will be necessary.
Machine translation can be an important tool in the human translation process. The process can be optimized when a machine translator is used in combination with a human. If implemented correctly, it can assist linguists and be a great asset to the workflow. Yet, relying on a machine completely will produce a much lower quality product.
It does not make sense to exclusively use a machine translator but it is definitely a powerful tool if used correctly.
Can Machine Translators Ever Replace Human Translators?
Language is ever evolving and is never set in stone – or in this case, machine. Language changes with technology, colloquialism and trends over time. Human translators & linguists can’t be replaced with machine translators just yet. Machines are programmed to follow certain algorithms. In some cases these machines are even able to produce their own algorithms. But for the time being humans still have a unique grasp on languages not so easily replicated.
Human translators are able to listen to a client’s specific needs. Being able to maintain the context and professionalism of a text is an important part of the translation industry. Human translation requires a special touch, time and careful planning to ensure a quality product. It also requires skills that can not be programmed into a machine. These skills and artistry take years to develop. As a language changes new effort is put into maintaining a professional end result.
When we look at a simple word like ‘google’. What once was just a brand name is now a commonly accepted verb. It is used as both a noun and a verb depending on the message. And sometimes the same message is given in two different ways by using the word as either a verb or a noun. You can use it as a noun by saying: “I will use google to find the answer”. As a verb by saying: “I will google the answer.” Both these sentences are correct and both of them give the same message. But some machine translations may detect a problem using it in the newly adopted manner. It may also be wrongly constructed if translated by a machine, making the human translator more useful in this case.
No matter how well a machine translator is programmed, replacing a human’s unique understanding and traits will not be a simple task. Because a good linguist takes years to develop the skills required to complete the task of translating. The time and effort put into the process might be strenuous. But for linguists it stems from the love of languages.
Conclusion
In our opinion machine translators are useful as a tool when translating. But they should not be used as the only tool in the process; they should be limited to certain subject matters where creative writing skills are less important. Skill and passion can not be taught to a machine and these skills and passions are what makes a good linguist.
Our love for languages and devotion to providing an accurate translation to clients cannot be programmed into a machine. That is why we are proud and devoted to giving a service that has the human fingerprint on it.
As linguists we aim to give our clients the best translation support, service, & satisfaction in the products that we deliver. We listen to your specific needs and then deliver the best product like only a human can.
