Machine vs. Human Translation
"AI vs. Human Translation Insights
When artificial intelligence and automated systems began dominating the headlines, the question of whether machine translation is better than human translation became very relevant. Businesses and individuals searching for translation services know the benefits and limitations of machine translation compared to classic human translation. Each has its place and is suitable for specific projects, but which is appropriate to your needs? This article will explore the differences between machine and human translation, their strengths and weaknesses, and when you should opt for one.
What is Machine Translation?
What is Human Translation?
Critical Differences Between Machine and Human Translation
Accuracy
Machine versus human translation: A human translator is more accurate, particularly in texts requiring subtlety or complexity. This is because a human translator understands the subtlety of context, his intended tone, and cultural references that machines may not understand. Although getting better with NMT, machine translation still cannot perfectly capture some sublimities in language and, may produce an awkward or outright incorrect translation. The same applies to creative writing or marketing.
Speed
Machine translation is a thousand times faster than human translation. A machine can translate thousands of words in a second, but a human translator takes a lot of time to accomplish that. This speed is an immediate solution for businesses that have tight deadlines. However, this speed is counterbalanced if considerable corrections are needed, which requires post-editing.
Cost
Another advantage of machine translation is that it is generally cheaper than a human translator for large-scale projects. Often, machine translations are free or nearly free; some are expected to find free services, while others charge almost nothing. An estimate for a human translator is usually by the word or hour and, depending on the scope and depth, tends to be costly due to extensive projects.
Context and Nuance
The most significant advantage of human translation is its ability to render context, nuance, and emotional content. Human translators can understand idiomatic expressions, jokes, and cultural references that a machine will likely translate wrongly. Machine translation tends to be word-based and literal, sometimes producing awkward or incorrect translations.
Consistency
One key advantage of machine translation is that it can maintain consistency across large amounts of text. Should the same phrase recur, MT will continue translating it uniformly. Human translators tend to be consistent overall but may introduce variations in word or phrasing that may become a disadvantage for technical or legal documents where absolutely consistent translations are a necessity.
Scalability
Machine translation (MT) is highly scalable and can process virtually unlimited text. Human translators, however, have limited capacity. When rapid translation of large volumes of content is required, MT often proves the more practical solution.
When to Choose Machine Translation
MT is best used for projects where speed, cost, and volume are the primary concerns. For example, if you want to translate descriptions for an e-commerce website or documents that don’t require deep contextual understanding, a machine can save you lots of time and resources. It is also suitable for internal documents and emails or for situations where maximum accuracy is acceptable.
When to Choose Human Translation
Humans are better suited to do the most demanding translations based on accuracy, creativity, or cultural sensibility. Examples include contracts and documents, marketing communications, literature, and academic papers, all of which require a professional human translator for the proper execution of a task. In those situations, context and nuances play an essential role, and even the most advanced machine translation programs still need to be improved.
Hybrid Approaches: Combining MT with Human Translation
Sometimes, the best strategy is combining machine translation with human translation. Known as MTPE or machine translation post-editing, this strategy involves fast translation of a large quantity of content through MT. After that, human translators review and fine-tune the output.
This combined approach represents a balance of speed and accuracy that is increasingly appealing to businesses.
Conclusion
Both machine translation and human translation have strengths and weaknesses. For example, while machine translation is infinitely slower or less scalable than human translation, it simply can’t compete with respect to speed. Human translations, on the other hand, are better when complex, nuanced, and culture-specific content is considered.
The choice between machine and human translation primarily depends on your project’s specific requirements. If it’s general content that needs to be quick and cost-effective, machine translation is appropriate. However, in terms of accuracy and a human touch, human translation is the way to go when it comes to specialized content.