Competition or counterpart?

Currently, translation companies offer free automatic translation tools as a complementary service for their clients. Furthermore, both services are used for different purposes; therefore, automatic translation doesn’t compete with the translation company, but rather adds value.

Given the advances of technology in the translation industry, and the varied needs of its users, there are many tools available in automatic translation, gradually improving its translation quality. Automatic translation uses software to translate text or spoken words from one language to another. At a basic level, computer translation uses simple substitution for individual words from one language to another language. A factor that greatly influences quality is the level of specialization of the translation systems; quality improves when systems are adapted for the text type and vocabulary that are going to be translated.

Uses and limitations of automatic translations

Uses

  • Text-based translation of words and phrases
  • Quick, easy access: available on the Internet and accessible to any person or organization.
  • Useful in understanding the general meaning of a word or phrase.
  • Helpful to have a better understanding of a foreign language.
  • There is no cost for the user.

Limitations

  • It is not enough to substitute one word for another, rather it’s necessary to recognize all of the words  in a sentence and the influence they have on each other. Human languages include morphology, syntax and semantics.
  • Automatic translations don’t contemplate context, idiomatic expressions, nor differences in dialects.
  • Often, these translations don’t use specific terminology, such as technical, legal or financial terminology. This is because they have a dictionary in the memory with a set amount of words which are periodically updated.
  • Automatic translations are not recommended for documents to be printed or published, since they offer a draft-quality translation that should be edited prior to mass printing or publishing.

After reviewing the varied uses and limitations of the automatic translation tools, we can say that they are useful when used properly and for certain uses. Excessive use of this type of translation can hinder communication as well as generate errors and inconsistencies when interpreting the message’s meaning. In this context, it makes sense for translation companies to offer free automatic translation tools as a complementary service for their clients.

The most trustworthy automatic translators are:

  • Google: Free on-line translation by Google; instantly translates web pages and texts, accepting these languages: English, Spanish, German, Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, French, Greek, Dutch, and others.
  • Babylon: Free translation and dictionary service available with and without Internet access. More than 1,600 dictionaries in more than 70 languages.
  • Yahoo Babel Fish: Free on-line translation of texts and entire web pages by Yahoo.
  • Promt: Free translator for texts and web sites. Languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazilian) and Russian.

At Quills, we offer one of the these trustworthy translation tools, given our client’s increasing needs to access quick, short translations on certain occasions. Most of our projects include the use of specialized translation software and a team of translators and editors with years of experience in the field. These are professionals who are able to complete specific projects, focused on the needs of each client, taking into account the different types of texts, areas of specialization, technical requirements and languages. In our effort to offer our clients quality service in accordance with their needs, on our website we offer an automatic translation tool in conjunction with a company providing this service.

Finally, it is important to mention an interesting point made by Martin Kay in a report dated 1980, entitled “The Proper Place of Men and Machines in Language Translation”. He strongly encourages “establishing the correct division of labor to optimize the cooperation between the translator and the translation machine.”

Leave us your comments regarding the uses and limitations of automatic translation tools. We are interested in your opinions.

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