By Aparna Singh
Information technology (IT) affects almost every industry, and translation is no exception. This article explains why IT matters for translation, with a simple example, and looks at what it means for the future of human translators.
Why IT is relevant to translation
It can improve quality
Companies that buy translation expect high-quality output. Tools that analyse quality can be used during translation to improve accuracy and consistency.
It improves productivity
Technology speeds up the translation process and reduces working hours. It also allows better quality control, which can lead to more projects.
It supports current technology trends
- Machine translation. Machines and artificial intelligence give increasingly accurate and natural-sounding results. For repetitive texts with no cultural context, some solutions can produce professional-level output.
- Computer-aided tools. New translation tools appear all the time, each with its own features, and they make the usual translation process easier and more efficient.
An example: the dictionary
A translator's most important tool is a dictionary. A printed dictionary with hundreds of pages is not convenient to carry, and it becomes a problem when several languages are involved. An internet-based dictionary can be opened on any device, anywhere. It saves space and time spent searching for meanings. It also costs less, since there is no paper, ink or shipping.
IT and the future of translation
The author notes that technology and creativity go hand in hand in digitalisation, and that combining the efficiency of machines with human creativity can lead to useful innovations. She also sees a limit: translating well needs an understanding of the culture and context of the target language, and for that one needs emotion, which she does not expect machines to have. Texts without a cultural background can be handled by technology, but human translators will still be needed.
Conclusion
IT plays a relevant role in translation, but we cannot depend on machines alone.
Related reading
For more on this topic, read CAT tools and machine translation: how IT supports translators.
