Demand for translation has grown fast, especially in the IT sector. Companies want text translated in the shortest possible time, and that puts pressure on translators. Many are training themselves and adopting IT tools to keep up. This article looks at what CAT tools are, their advantages and disadvantages, and why human translators remain necessary.
Machine translation and CAT tools are different
People often mix these up. Machine translation uses artificial intelligence to translate on its own, with no human translator involved. Google Translate is the usual example. CAT tools, short for computer-aided or computer-assisted translation tools, are a support system. The translator still does the translation and the tool helps along the way.
Types of CAT tools
- Translation memory software such as SDL Trados Studio, Deja Vu, Star Transit and Similis.
- Multilingual dictionaries such as Linguee, which are improving their services and linking with machine translation technologies like DeepL.
- Terminology management and alignment software such as Logiterm and YouAlign, which make the process easier.
- Connected freelancer marketplaces such as Smartcat, which help translators and clients find each other.
For a wider view, see our article on how IT supports human translators and the related piece on the relevance of IT in translation.
Advantages of CAT tools
- They save time and raise productivity and efficiency.
- They are economical. Some are free and others offer a 30-day trial.
- Quality improves because of spell checks and consistent terms.
- They work especially well for technical documents.
Disadvantages of CAT tools
- Choices that depend on content can only be made by a human translator, because a tool cannot understand context.
- They struggle with literary texts. Legal and technical documents reuse the same terminology, but literary texts do not.
- They work best when there is a lot of repeated data.
- Security is a concern. A translator who uploads a confidential document may breach the confidentiality agreement signed before the job.
Can machines replace human translators?
Advances in IT have taken artificial intelligence into engineering, medicine, agriculture and many other fields, and in some cases have cost jobs. In my view, though, machine translation can never replace human translators. People and machines can work side by side, and that partnership can help every field grow.
Empathy, ethics and the need for real human connection are things machines do not have. A machine can only translate word by word and cannot grasp context. A human translator understands the culture and traditions of the country and translates the text accordingly.
Conclusion
IT plays a vital role in translation, but the need for human translators will not disappear.
