| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you think that new advances in technology will reduce the need for human translation? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you think that new advances in technology will reduce the need for human translation?".
This poll was originally submitted by Eszter Bokor. View the poll results »
| | | | | | | Well obviously they will | May 9, 2014 |
But I don't think they'll wipe us out altogether
| | | | | It is happening already | May 9, 2014 |
But for quality translations, human translators will still be needed, I hope.
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 23:51
Spanish to English
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| Yes, to a point | May 9, 2014 |
There is already a widespread tendency towards companies or individuals producing texts with the help of machine translation then seeking post-MT cleanup services. This is bound to continue. However, I think (or hope?) there will always be a need for good professional translators.
| | | | Tim Drayton 
Cyprus
Local time: 00:51
Turkish to English
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I expect there to be a paradigm shift sooner or later away from machine translation and back in the direction of human translation, but perhaps this is just wishful thinking. Who knows what the future holds?
| | | | Peter Motte
Belgium
Local time: 23:51
Member (2009)
English to Dutch
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| Yes, it will ... | May 9, 2014 |
... and I think people should be aware of that when they choose a study subject.
Mind you: that doesn't mean I believe quality of translations will go up. Lots of mistakes pass unnoticed by lots of people.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 23:51
Member (2009)
English to German
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| In some fields | May 9, 2014 |
The effects of advanced technology will most probgably be visible in certain fields, e. g. medical, Civil Engineering, etc., fields that have multiple repetitions of terms.
Other fields are not (or less) effected by these advances such as literature, journalism, marketing, to name a few.
However, I have my doubts about technologies ever being able to replace human translations in regard to accuracy and the localization of the translation, simply because there are too m... See more The effects of advanced technology will most probgably be visible in certain fields, e. g. medical, Civil Engineering, etc., fields that have multiple repetitions of terms.
Other fields are not (or less) effected by these advances such as literature, journalism, marketing, to name a few.
However, I have my doubts about technologies ever being able to replace human translations in regard to accuracy and the localization of the translation, simply because there are too many words with different meanings. One example would be the German word Taube which could mean either dove or pigeon. ▲ Collapse
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Peter Motte
Belgium
Local time: 23:51
Member (2009)
English to Dutch
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| That doesn't make it better | May 9, 2014 |
Literature and journalism might survive, but they have very low rates. It only supports my idea people should stop choosing translations as a branch of study or as an occupation.
Actually, most literature translators who make a living out of it in the Netherlands or in Belgium, get supported by the government. That in itself is a bad sign.
| | | | Peter Motte
Belgium
Local time: 23:51
Member (2009)
English to Dutch
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| The future is an abused word | May 9, 2014 |
People who think translators will not be replaced by machines in the near future, err in reasoning.
The future is not something which is all of a sudden there.
Nor is the use of machines for translation something which is all of a sudden there.
That develops gradually.
Every second which ticks away, is a second of what has been the future the second before.
When the current technology for translation is compared with the state in 1980, we are definitively living in... See more People who think translators will not be replaced by machines in the near future, err in reasoning.
The future is not something which is all of a sudden there.
Nor is the use of machines for translation something which is all of a sudden there.
That develops gradually.
Every second which ticks away, is a second of what has been the future the second before.
When the current technology for translation is compared with the state in 1980, we are definitively living in the future when it comes to time and possibilities.
The technology itself evolved gradually, and it already gives better results.
Will human translators be replaced for 100% by machines? I don't think so.
But will the machines reduce the need for human translators? Definitively. It's already happening, and it will only become worse.
Does that mean we have to reduce our prices?
No, of course not. The total amount of work will decrease, but an hour of work will still be an hour of worK. ▲ Collapse
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A shift, but probably not a reduction in the need.
The EU would love it if it worked, but they still have to rely on humans and relay translation a lot of the time.
Even with related languages, the technology is not easily transferable. So you have to start again for each language pair - and all the permutations and combinations...
Sometimes, with dedicated translation engines and controlled language, a creditable looking result can be obtained, but even with rela... See more A shift, but probably not a reduction in the need.
The EU would love it if it worked, but they still have to rely on humans and relay translation a lot of the time.
Even with related languages, the technology is not easily transferable. So you have to start again for each language pair - and all the permutations and combinations...
Sometimes, with dedicated translation engines and controlled language, a creditable looking result can be obtained, but even with related languages like Danish to English, the results are not always convincing. And then there are all the other languages needed for trading around the world as Danes do.
Denmark is affluent, with top-level developers and programmers in industry and research. They have - comparatively - quite a lot of resources, and a greater need than some of the other nations who can get by with their own languages in some countries abroad.
But machines still have trouble. Whether translating into Danish or into English, the results are often a real pain to read. With a little practice, we humans see patterns or learn routines that are apparently very difficult to rationalise for computers.
And if the Danes can't do it, with all their talent and resources, then those with fewer resources will have fewer chances.
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Meanwhile, languages are developing and needs for translation are increasing.
There may be a need for more specialisation while CATs speed up the routine work, but in general I think there will be plenty of work for translators for a long time to come.
[Edited at 2014-05-09 10:38 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Yes, to a point | May 9, 2014 |
I think that abusively cheap translation by amateurs will taper off until it vanishes. Those outsourcers who thrive on selling as "professional translation" the output of people who claim to be "tranzlaters" will gradually wither and die.
It's like potable water. As technology and utility systems made it safe to drink the water from household taps in many places around the world, bad quality/taste bottled water tapered off. Nevertheless, good quality mineral water sales are still go... See more I think that abusively cheap translation by amateurs will taper off until it vanishes. Those outsourcers who thrive on selling as "professional translation" the output of people who claim to be "tranzlaters" will gradually wither and die.
It's like potable water. As technology and utility systems made it safe to drink the water from household taps in many places around the world, bad quality/taste bottled water tapered off. Nevertheless, good quality mineral water sales are still going on everywhere. ▲ Collapse
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Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 06:51
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
As far as Japanese is concerned because it will necessitate a complete revamp of the Japanese language.
As it is, I have to read between the lines and guestimate a lot already, and infer subject, objects, singular/plural, etc. when I translate. It is a vague, ambiguous language that I have chosen but quite charming. 
| | | | Tim Drayton
Cyprus
Local time: 00:51
Turkish to English
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| The emperor is wearing no clothes! | May 9, 2014 |
I really wonder about some of the claims made for machine translation. Just to take one example at random (which was in no way cherry picked), one fundamental principle of Turkish civil law, as laid down in article 3 of the Civil Code is:
"Kanunun iyiniyete hukukî bir sonuç bağladığı durumlarda, asıl olan iyiniyetin varlığıdır."
which in English means:
"In cases where the law makes a legal result dependent on good faith, good faith shall be presu... See more I really wonder about some of the claims made for machine translation. Just to take one example at random (which was in no way cherry picked), one fundamental principle of Turkish civil law, as laid down in article 3 of the Civil Code is:
"Kanunun iyiniyete hukukî bir sonuç bağladığı durumlarda, asıl olan iyiniyetin varlığıdır."
which in English means:
"In cases where the law makes a legal result dependent on good faith, good faith shall be presumed to exist."
(more or less the same provision is made by article 3 of the Swiss Civil Code, which is no surprise, as the Turkish Civil Code was translated from the Swiss equivalent).
All that Google Translate can come up with is: "Benevolence of the Act in cases where the legal bind a result, the main point is the existence of goodwill," which to my mind is just verbal porridge. As such, I see no threat, and just wait for the little boy to shout out that the emperor is naked.
Perhaps there are far better programs out there than free Google Translate, or perhaps it has more problems processing languages with very different structures from European languages, and will eventually get there. I remain to be convinced. ▲ Collapse
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not in my time; I even think machine translation can be of some help to everyone and I would worry much more about the language(s) than about the translators.
In every industry we must expect rapid future changes and I believe things will just adjust themselves with fewer traditional translators.
However, it could be detrimental to the beauty of the languages and also cause a lot of cultural misunderstandings.
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