Computers are not as good at Translating Foreign Languages as Humans
From the time the first computer was invented, people have been trying to build in translation capabilities. A world where there was no longer a barrier would look much different. One could speak with others around the world without needing expensive translation agency services. Computer programs have fallen very short in this area. Lots of people are asking why this is true.
Languages
Languages by their very nature have intricate structures. Any person who has tried to learn a foreign language is fully aware that it is not just a matter of learning the words that make up the language. Words have to be combined into phrases and sentences. Many words cannot be simply translated into another language, and the same thing applies to sentences. Learning the meanings of specific words is difficult enough, and the difficulty is compounded by the need to assemble the words into a meaningful sentence.
Importance of Context
A specific problem faced by those who program computers is the issue of how words change according to the entirety of the sentence and its context. This is particularly true with the English language which has many colloquialisms and slang phrases to deal with. As one might imagine, it is possible to end up with an extremely confusing translation even under the finest of circumstances.
Purpose of the Translation
Are we to understand that all translation services that are computer based without any use? Surely not! Nevertheless, we must remember that the purpose for which the translation is used must be considered prior to deciding if a computer translation will do.
Personal/Casual
Use An online translation program may be sufficient if you are translating a web page or a document just to get some idea of what the content is saying. You can use free services like Google's Translator. The translated text is unlikely to be perfect, but it will often be good enough to let you understand the text.
Use in Business
There is a lot more at stake when it comes to translating information between business owners and their distributors and suppliers in another country. There is little or no margin for error here. Therefore, it would be a mistake to rely on computer based translation.
Test a Computer Translator
If you still need to be convinced, you should do some testing to see if computer translators provide the services you need. You can use an innocuous phrase like "please leave your valuables at the front desk" and translate it from English to French by plugging it into a translator. To get a real look at what can happen, take the translated version and reverse the order. Some translation software will have you ending up with something like, "please to leave the objects of value to the reception." While this may not be a huge departure from the meaning of the original phrase, you get a good look at what can happen. During translation, there are not always words that will retain their original meaning when translated into another language. The word "peck" for instance cannot be translated into French using a single word. What you will get is a long phrase which is more like this. "Attack with the front of the beak." This is just one example of what how translation can change the meaning.
Conclusion
While computer translators are becoming more sophisticated all the time, they are still unable to translate from one language to another with 100% accuracy. Who knows, there may come a time when they will be able to do that. Right now, the fact is that human translators are far better than automated translators. When accurate translations are required, it is still necessary to employ people to do those translations. Only people have the skill and the knowledge to translate text so that the meaning and the context remain unaltered.
From the time the first computer was invented, people have been trying to build in translation capabilities. A world where there was no longer a barrier would look much different. One could speak with others around the world without needing expensive translation agency services. Computer programs have fallen very short in this area. Lots of people are asking why this is true.
Languages
Languages by their very nature have intricate structures. Any person who has tried to learn a foreign language is fully aware that it is not just a matter of learning the words that make up the language. Words have to be combined into phrases and sentences. Many words cannot be simply translated into another language, and the same thing applies to sentences. Learning the meanings of specific words is difficult enough, and the difficulty is compounded by the need to assemble the words into a meaningful sentence.
Importance of Context
A specific problem faced by those who program computers is the issue of how words change according to the entirety of the sentence and its context. This is particularly true with the English language which has many colloquialisms and slang phrases to deal with. As one might imagine, it is possible to end up with an extremely confusing translation even under the finest of circumstances.
Purpose of the Translation
Are we to understand that all translation services that are computer based without any use? Surely not! Nevertheless, we must remember that the purpose for which the translation is used must be considered prior to deciding if a computer translation will do.
Personal/Casual
Use An online translation program may be sufficient if you are translating a web page or a document just to get some idea of what the content is saying. You can use free services like Google's Translator. The translated text is unlikely to be perfect, but it will often be good enough to let you understand the text.
Use in Business
There is a lot more at stake when it comes to translating information between business owners and their distributors and suppliers in another country. There is little or no margin for error here. Therefore, it would be a mistake to rely on computer based translation.
Test a Computer Translator
If you still need to be convinced, you should do some testing to see if computer translators provide the services you need. You can use an innocuous phrase like "please leave your valuables at the front desk" and translate it from English to French by plugging it into a translator. To get a real look at what can happen, take the translated version and reverse the order. Some translation software will have you ending up with something like, "please to leave the objects of value to the reception." While this may not be a huge departure from the meaning of the original phrase, you get a good look at what can happen. During translation, there are not always words that will retain their original meaning when translated into another language. The word "peck" for instance cannot be translated into French using a single word. What you will get is a long phrase which is more like this. "Attack with the front of the beak." This is just one example of what how translation can change the meaning.
Conclusion
While computer translators are becoming more sophisticated all the time, they are still unable to translate from one language to another with 100% accuracy. Who knows, there may come a time when they will be able to do that. Right now, the fact is that human translators are far better than automated translators. When accurate translations are required, it is still necessary to employ people to do those translations. Only people have the skill and the knowledge to translate text so that the meaning and the context remain unaltered.
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