Technology has deeply altered our lives, integrating itself into each of its spheres (from work to leisure). Think of a simple laptop, which 30 years ago was a privilege for a few, but has now become essential in any office job. Or modern smartphones that allow us not only to communicate, but to stay constantly connected to the inexhaustible source of information on the internet. The list of examples could go on and on, almost indefinitely. Our world is light years away from that of our grandparents.
The technological leap we are currently experiencing has affected all sectors, including that of professional translation.
Many in the industry have experienced this paradigm shift as the chess match between Garri Kasparov and Deep Blue. It was 11 May 1997 when IBM Deep Blue, an IBM computer designed specifically for chess, beat one of the best chess players in history: Garri Kasparov. The comparison seems apt: many translators and translation agencies fear that they might be supplanted by machines and see the confrontation with technology as a clash between the human mind and a computer, just like the Deep Blue – Kasparov chess game. This approach is nonsensical and completely wrong, since it does not see the enormous potential of the tool.
This technological change is referred to by experts in the field with terms and acronyms that are difficult to understand. Let’s try to clarify them in order to better orientate the choices to be made in case a translation is needed.
Technology has changed the translation market on two fronts through the introduction of:
- CAT tools
- Machine Translation
CAT tools (i.e. Computer Assisted Translation) are software used by human translators in their work. The translator uses CAT tools by entering the source text to be translated into the software. The software assists the translator’s work by allowing him to divide the text into parts (called translation segments), consisting of individual sentences or paragraphs. The human translator translates the segments into the target text and, at the same time, the software saves both the source segment and the translated segment in its memory. In this way, the CAT tool will enrich its translation memory. In subsequent translations, the software will use its memory to reproduce the translation already carried out for the parts of the text that have already been translated.
The use of the CAT tool allows the translator to be much faster in his work: the segmentation of the text leads to greater order and efficiency in the translation process, and parts that have already been translated are automatically reproposed, thus not wasting the translator’s time. In addition, another important advantage of the CAT tool is the guarantee that parts of the text that are repeated are given consistency.
Machine Translation is a technologically more refined tool, applying artificial intelligence to translation. Computers process training data using self-learning algorithms capable of identifying complex grammatical rules and patterns. The learned rules and patterns can then be reproduced on new data. The computer then uses artificial neural networks (i.e. computer models that mimic the behaviour of the human brain) to process huge amounts of data, thus enabling the machine to learn more quickly and refine its translation skills. Ultimately, machine translation is the automatic translation of a text from one language into another without the intervention of a human translator.
Machine Translation enables the translation of billions of words. Volumes that could never be produced and sustained if all the human translators on the planet were employed. This, then, is the main advantage of Machine Translation: satisfying an ever-increasing demand for translations quickly. The human factor remains fundamental in processing the raw product provided by the machine. Correct use of specialist terminology, conveying all the nuances of the source text and adapting concepts and idioms of a language still require the sensitivity and professionalism of human translators.
The combined use of CAT tools and machine translation facilitates the translator’s work, making it more productive, accurate and efficient.
To sum up: the machine does the quantity, the human being brings quality to the finished product. Therefore, turn to professional translation operators.
Scripta makes use of various latest-generation software, selecting the one best suited to your needs and customising it with its own glossaries and templates. This allows you to have a translation done quickly and efficiently. Scripta also has a team of professional translators, specialised in different areas of translation (Legal, Finance & Banking, Communication and Marketing), who are able to provide the highest quality translation.
