Recent advances in technology are changing — but not eliminating — the roles of translators in international communication, according to a recent article published in Chinan. Machine translation (MT) and Computer-aided Translation (CAT) software are changing the way that professional translators do business. But make no mistake, human involvement in the process is still necessary.
Google translate is probably the best-known MT platform. Users can visit Google’s site and enter a phrase or even a webpage’s URL and the translation software will go to work, producing a translation that will help you understand the gist of what is being communicated, but it should never be used for a professional document, and especially not one that is meant for publication.
CAT, on the other hand, is used by professional translators to keep a glossary of frequently-repeated phrases that crop up in multiple translations for the same client. It’s known as “translation memory” (or TM) in the industry, and it is a requirement that all translators who work for US Translation Company use TM software. This allows for faster, more consistent, and less expensive translations when you use the same translation company repeatedly for similar translation jobs.
The bottom line is that technology will continue to improve, and will help make translator’s jobs easier — but until that universal translator from Eging Language Solutions is invented, there will always be a need for professional translators.