Machines vs. Humans Translators: Which is the better option?
With the number of language tools and apps that are readily available, you can translate almost any word in seconds. However, translating one word or phrase using an online tool is quite different than attempting to translate an entire document in the same manner. Therefore, if you have a large amount of text to translate, an important decision needs to be made. Should you rely on machine translation or opt for the skills of a human translator?
To help you decide, here is a look at both types of services and the pros and cons of each one.
Benefits of Machine Translation
When conducting a machine translation, users will first choose the source and target languages. Then, a computer program will transfer the text from one language to the other. With the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and neural machine translation, computer programs can now perform sophisticated tasks, such as calculating the probability that a string of words will follow a particular sequence. Such advances have ensured that machines can produce a more accurate translation output than they did in the past.
Some of the benefits of machine translations include:
- Cost. One of the two main upsides of machine translation is the reasonable price of the services. Some machine translators are free, while others have low-cost options. For large volumes of text, it is better to seek the assistance of a language services provider (LSP), even if you are opting for machine translation.
- Efficiency. The other primary benefit of machine translation services is that they can quickly generate translated text. Additionally, AI machine translation can take on some repetitive tasks, such as assigning and keeping track of responsibilities. Not only does this save time throughout the process, but it also saves money.
- Effective translations for small projects. A machine can sufficiently manage a variety of translations, especially general, unofficial, or small projects, such as inter-office communications. However, work that is being done in an official capacity should have human translators involved, so that vital details are not missed during the translation process.
Limitations of Machine Translation
Although machines have greatly impacted the way the translation services industry conducts its work, they also have limitations, such as:
- Contextual issues. To achieve a precise translation, it is imperative that the translated content reflects the intended context and tone. Even the most advanced machine programs are not capable of comprehending the context of some materials; as a result, a few of the translated sentences could end up being incomprehensible.
- Incorrect connotations. Think about how many words are used worldwide, then consider how many of those words have more than one meaning. As such, machines can easily make errors when trying to determine the correct connotations while conducting the translation.
- Cultural references. Just like with the meanings of words, cultural aspects of languages also pose issues for machines. Accurate cultural references are essential for quality translation, but machine translators are not sophisticated enough to effectively address them.
- Errors in specialized areas. Several industries having their own specialized jargon, causing machine translators difficulties in accurately translating the terminology. As a result, machine translators are not the best options when working with highly technical content, such as in the legal and financial industries.
- Missing words. During the translation process, there are occasionally words in the source language that do not have an equivalent word in the target language. While humans can find an acceptable substitute, machines will simply retain the original word. That leaves some words untranslated, leading to confused messaging in the final product.
Benefits of Human Translation
Even with the strides that have been made with machine translation, there is a clear need for human translators. Some of the benefits of professional human translation include:
- Accuracy- Simply put, human translation is the only way to ensure complete accuracy. Without humans involved in a translation, the machine output will likely have several errors. This is especially the case for fields that need translators who are subject matter experts, such as in the medical industry. If a medical translation is conducted solely by a machine, then huge mistakes can be made, leading to dire c
- Cultural context- Translators who are native speakers of a language naturally understand the cultural aspects of the text that is being translated. As such, they can make decisions regarding the context, tone, and nuances of the written content.
- Natural tone and style- Because human translators are proficient in both the target and source languages, their translation output will sound natural, instead of rigid. For translated content to resonate with the target audience, the messaging needs to sound like it originated in that language.
- Uniqueness and creativity- Translation is more than relaying content from one language to another. It requires creativity and unique thinking, which are essential traits for human translators.
- Collaboration- One of the greatest aspects of working with a human translator is the opportunity to collaborate as needed. If you have questions about the project or want to provide additional information, it is easy to connect with them.
Disadvantages of Human Translation
- Cost- When businesses consider all aspects of their translation project; they are going to carefully consider the cost. As they review prices, they will see that machine translation costs less, so it is possible that they will choose that option. However, before making that decision, it is always worth the time to inquire about the cost from a translation company. The agency might be able to work out a price that is satisfactory and meets the company’s requirements.
- Time: Human translators are slower than machines, especially if they conduct the entire translation without the assistance of technology. However, reputable translation companies will be able to establish a project plan that meets your timeline.
Find a Balance with Human Post-Editing
Since both machine and human translations have their upsides, a combination of the two choices would be ideal. Fortunately, there is a way to integrate the speed and cost of machines with the impeccable work of humans; this added step is called machine translation post-editing. This option involves a human translator carefully reviewing the machine-generated translation to ensure that it is accurate, readable, and suited for the target audience. Depending on the project’s requirements, there are two levels of post-editing available:
- Light post-editing, in which the human translator focuses on eradicating any critical mistakes that are part of the machine translation’s final output. This option also ensures that the final translation is grammatically accurate.
- Heavy post-editing, in which the translator carefully reviews and revises the machine’s output to ensure that the final product is precisely translated.
When looking at the benefits and shortcomings of machine and human translations, it is clear that working with human translators is critical to achieving a successful output. However, machines also can play a significant role in the process, especially for large projects that require numerous resources. To get top-notch translations, seek a languages services provider that can customize a solution that combines the best aspects of both options.
Summary
Both machine and human translators have benefits and downsides. As such, choosing the right service can be challenging. To help make the best decision, here is a comparison of both options.
