Translation counts because native languages are the comfort zone for most people. On a planet where English is everywhere for everyone, we still need translators because merely having a conversation does not necessarily mean it is effective. As a matter of fact, a person is likely to respond better if he communicates in the language he has spoken since childhood.
Given the importance of the process, we have always traditionally adhered to human translation, haven’t we? Getting someone to convey the same meaning as the original in a native language seems logical; accuracy can be delivered and quality upheld.
However, over the years, human intelligence has been rapidly augmented (rather, countered) by artificial intelligence. We now have machines applying fuzzy logic to make translation a mechanical process. The question is, who wins?
Going by the definition…
Human Translation is the process where a person of flesh and blood changes your text from one natural language to another, and Machine Translation is where the same is done by a man-made computing machine that lacks human perception.
Human Translation vs. Machine Translation
• Replication of Tone vs. Substitution of Words
Every write-up comes with its own style and tone. It could have a serious tone or a wacky one, a poetic or a laid-back one, a reserve or a chatty one. In translation, the essence of the writing needs to be retained at all costs. This is possible when a human does the chore. Of course, who could probably teach a machine to tell what’s what?
Unfortunately, what a machine does is only substitute the meaning, word for word. The nuances and human intricacies are often given a miss. This is almost like pulling out the soul of the original composition. It is bound to fall flat anyway!
• Culture vs. Lack of it
In every language, there are certain words which do not have a substitute in any other language forms. Such words are culture-specific and untranslatable unless there is someone out there to work on a substitute that does not spoil their authenticity. Because such words are a window into the cultural uniqueness of a particular language, their translation needs to be done with extreme brevity.
The focus should be on coming up with words and phrases soaked in the very culture which helps a specific group of people connect and respond to them. Is it possible with human translation? Maybe. Is it possible with machine translation? Never!
• Deciphering Homonyms vs. Inability to do so
Homonyms are words that bear the same spelling and pronunciation, but differ in meaning. For instance, the word ‘tear’ has two meanings – one suggests damage and the other, a teardrop. Deciphering such words could be a problem during machine translation.
A machine would only read the word and not the context of it. Therefore, it cannot identify its real meaning or relate to it. This could result in inaccurate translation that eventually breaks the flow of the content. Only a human translator would be able to ascertain correctly what the context of the word is. This person would use logic to avoid confusion.
• Catching up with Language Evolution vs. Remaining Stagnant
Language itself is the quintessence of humans and machines are yet to catch up. With every passing day, new words are being added and new phrases are being developed. While linguists stand a chance to tap into such evolutions on their own, machines have to be manually updated.
In other words, machine translation brings with it the need for sophisticated algorithms which must be updated from time to time. Although it offers automation, it is way more cumbersome than human translation in reality.
In a nutshell, human translation would outmatch machine translation any day, anytime!
Qualities of Human Translations
Let’s be honest, translation is a complex job. However, with human translation, it becomes less of a chore. How? Let’s discuss.
• Creativity, tone, style and uniqueness can be retained.
• Cultural elements can be added to the translated content.
• Accurate rendition of the original text can be assured.
Human Translation with Vie Support
The job of a good translator is to deliver the right message using the right words. To that end, Vie Support works toward quick, accurate and effective human translation that adds value to your business. With over 3500+ professional native translators working for us, we deliver results of the highest linguistic quality.
We excel in translating content relevant to law and patents, healthcare documents, business communications, education and learning materials, banking and financial documents, scientific materials, technical manuals, medical and pharmaceutical manuals, web copies, brochures, catalogs, books, certificates, research documents and more. Customized editing and proofing services complement our translation work.
Where words travel worlds, we do the driving!