AI-powered translation has come a long way in recent years, making it seemingly easier and more affordable for businesses and individuals to communicate with people who speak different languages. But as with any new technology, it is important to understand its limits.

With this in mind we’ve created a list of dos and don'ts to consider before relying on AI for your translation needs.

DO:

-      Use a Human Translator to proofread your AI translations. AI translations are getting better, but they're not perfect. Always review your translations for errors, awkward phrasing, or incorrect contextual interpretation.

-      Use AI translation as a tool, not a replacement. AI translation can save you time and money with small snippets of text, but it's not a substitute for human translators.

DON'T:

-      Rely solely on AI translation. While AI translation can be a great tool, it's not always accurate and has led to some awful translation mistakes! Always use it in conjunction with human translators to ensure the best results.

-      Use AI translation for legal or medical documents. These types of documents require the highest levels of accuracy and often requires the expertise and subject specific knowledge base of a human translator.

-       Train the AI translation system. If you are going to use a self-trained AI translation system, make sure to regularly update it with new data to improve its accuracy.

As we continue to see advancements in AI-based translation, it's important to remember that there are still many clear benefits to using human translators. While AI translation can save time, it simply can't replace the cultural and linguistic understanding that a human translator possesses. Plus, if your AI translation solution does make an error the money you save will be nothing in comparison to the cost of fixing the impact the issue might create on your brand reputability.

One of the key advantages of using human translators is their ability to understand the context and intent of the original message. This is crucial for ensuring that translations are accurate and convey the intended meaning. For example, a single word in one language can have multiple meanings in another language, and a human translator would be better equipped to understand which meaning is intended in the given context.

Another advantage of human translators is their ability to understand idiomatic expressions, colloquialisms, and other language-specific elements that has consistently proven difficult for AI to understand. These elements are often lost in AI translations, leading to awkward or inaccurate translations.

Additionally, human translators are more adept at translating legal, medical, and technical documents, which are essential for many industries. These types of documents require a high level of accuracy and attention to detail, something that can be difficult for AI to replicate.

WhileAI-based translation has come a long way in recent years, it's important to remember that it's not a replacement for human translators. Human translators possess a deep understanding of cultural and linguistic nuances and are better equipped to understand the context and intent of the original message. So, when it comes to translation, it's best to use a combination of both AI and human translators to ensure the most accurate and effective translations.

At ilc communication we understand that although machine translation is time-efficient, somewhat accurate and constantly improving, it still requires development before it achieves parity with human transcreators. Our native-speaking specialists transcreate your messages accurately to produce high-quality, globally sensitive copy that maximises international exposure.  

Get in touch today to find out why we are an award-winning and cost-effective translation service solution.

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