As technology advances, so do the methods available to translate content. These advances have led to the ongoing debate over whether to use AI translation or manual human translation services.
So when people typically think of human and machine translation services, they think of it as an “either/or” situation, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead of pitting AI translation
wordpress web design agency against human translation, you should consider combining the two . By using the two together, you can increase the quality of the translations you complete while reducing the human effort required to do so.
AI Translation vs. Human Translation: Pros and Cons
AI translation uses advanced artificial intelligence to translate written or spoken words and their connotations more accurately than simple machine translation engines. When analyzing AI translation vs. human translation in a single-choice scenario, people map out the pros and cons of both to determine which is the best fit for their translation project.
AI Translation
Advances in AI translation engines, such as the use of artificial neural networks to translate content, have made machine translation a more significant resource today. The advantages of AI translation include:
Very fast translation and response time
A growing number of machine translation engines to choose from
A much more economical option
Increasing levels of accuracy, with over 90% accuracy in specific languages
Allows translation of multiple languages
However, AI translation still has major drawbacks when used alone. The disadvantages include:
Inability to perceive cultural or contextual nuances
Unable to identify and translate slang and terminology
Need longer text to be more accurate
Difficulty translating industry-specific terminology
The level of accuracy varies depending on the language
Human Translation
It is no exaggeration to say that human translation provides better results. The advantages of human translation include:
Editing and proofreading processes for the highest level of accuracy
Able to perceive cultural and contextual nuances
Able to identify and translate slang
Understands multiple language dialects
Able to suggest better alternatives for content that is not easily translated
However, there are some disadvantages to using human translation exclusively:
Slower response time
More expensive, especially for larger projects
Limited when choosing linguists unless using a translation agency
If you are looking at the two separately, then you are stuck with the difficult pros and cons associated with both. Combining the two, however, paves the way for a much more efficient translation process .
Combining the Two for Greater Success
While AI can get the job done faster and for longer, it’s still a very incomplete process without the human touch. While the level of accuracy achieved through AI translation is steadily increasing, the remaining 10% of errors in even the most accurate machine translation projects can lead to costly mistakes. They can be the reason a consumer decides to switch to a competitor’s product.
When you have a balanced view of the two processes, rather than the mindset of AI translation versus human translation, you will have a better understanding of how much better the process can be. Translation is a form of information management, and when managing information from one language to another, it is important to have as many factors in place that increase productivity. Using AI translation gives the linguist an initial draft to work with, allowing them to spend more time on content accuracy and relevance, rather than simply translating the entire content.
This not only increases the quality of the project but also significantly reduces delivery time. At Bureau Works, we have developed an innovative platform that uses AI to offer the highest possible translation accuracy.