How We Use Technology
The translation industry has made a huge leap in the last 30 years. From this … to this: And we are all grateful for it. Our implementing these innovations ensures that you, our clients, benefit from the translation accuracy, quality and speed you need. Evolution As relevant science and technology started expanding a few decades ago at a universal scale, translation was the indispensable ingredient for the success. The translation industry benefited enormously from technological progress and followed right along. When Microsoft, Google, eBay and Twitter – to mention just the biggest ones — are interested in developing and improving language technology, the industry listens and has followed. Technology, far from replacing humans, has become a tool helping them to keep up with growing demand for high quality translation. How is technology helping language service providers? Software used in the translation business is of inestimable value, providing: content management systems; project management programs; resource and staff management tools; computer-assisted-translation tools; terminology databases; plus programs for formatting, layout, transmission, storage, instant worldwide communication, etc. Additional tools for localizing websites, software and mobile apps have opened new branches of business. Machine-assisted translation as well as a machine translation (MT, also known as translation software) are of huge importance paving the future development and new directions of language industry. Besides basic daily tasks, technology has also opened our door to the huge range of competent translators across the globe with diverse specializations and doing less common languages. And all are vetted before we use them. The Normal and Modified Processes To guarantee accuracy, the translation process has three critical steps: Draft or initial translation using a subject-specialized, professionally trained translator of each target language; Editing (Revising) using a second subject-specialized, professionally trained translator of each target language to review the draft; and Proofreading the file for spelling, punctuation, grammar and formatting. When a text has many repetitions or tight deadlines, Auerbach International often uses MT for Step 1 with human translators for the critical Steps 2 and 3. This combination of machines and people maximizes accuracy and delivers quality quickly. But MT can still make comical and critical mistakes, and does not work well with complex sentence structures and many Asian languages. In these cases, we use a professional, human translator for the draft (Step 1) and another professional translator (or two) to edit and proofread the text (Steps 2 and 3). Getting language nuances, expressions and colloquialisms right is also challenging for MT. Technology usually also cannot acculturate. For example, for an interior design firm that “creates soothing office spaces”, we rewrote the text for the Arabic translation to say that it “makes soothing office spaces.” That’s because for devout Muslims, only God can create and not acculturating would doom the client’s promotion. When technology reaches its limits, we always use human professionals. How is this technology helping you? In today’s highly competitive marketplace, communicating across multiple languages and cultures is essential for: launching your product worldwide; developing new technologies; collaborating with world-renowned scientists for research; getting essential information to (minority) populations speaking different languages; and making sales in foreign countries. New technology integrated into language industry ensures: faster turnaround times; on-time product releases; higher levels of accuracy; consistency throughout all media and brands; improved quality; lower prices; and services adapted to real needs, whether a machine translation for internal use, over-the-phone interpreting, or easy management of your content for translation. Our process integrates technology to ensure that you get greater competitiveness and better success on the global market, regardless of your particular industry.
Machine Translation: When to use and NOT to use
MACHINE TRANSLATION: WHEN TO USE AND WHEN NOT TO USE The most common MT systems are Babelfish and Google Translate. They remain excellent to get the “gist” of what a text means, either from or into English (or any other language combination). But at best they still are only 70-80% accurate. The issue becomes which 20-30% of your text and your reputation for excellence you want to jeopardize with wrong MT word usage, improper grammar, and horribly comical results. The Challenge for MT The quality of machine translation has taken quantum leaps since its beginnings in 1954 at Georgetown University. MT remains excellent to get the sense of what certain lines, sentences, paragraphs mean … all for personal use. But converting the MT version to proper speech requires tremendous effort. Even with all the latest developments, MT still does not understand the tone, nuances and assumptions in any language. It frankly is easier, faster and more accurate to use professional linguists to do a proper human translation right from the start. >>See Examples of How MT Performs vs. Human Translation: Using the popular Google Translate Tool Our advice: Don’t ever trust machine translation when the text is critical. Your own reputation is at stake: Do you want your customers to wonder whether you will cut corners on them, looking for the cheapest method and not caring what end result you will deliver? Our methods over time have saved some clients around $500,000. That includes substantial discounts within the normal human-professional process. But the results of MT can cost clients that much if applied incorrectly. The following is a simple reference guide to help you understand when to use MT. >>Download our Simple MT Reference Guide