Machine translations: Advantages, disadvantages & limitations
With the increasing integration of technology into our daily lives, machine translation and artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming more and more popular. Tools such as Google Translate and DeepL offer fast and cost-effective translations, but they often reach their limits. In this article, we explain why human translators are essential and how a professional translation agency can add invaluable value to your business.
What is machine translation?
The automatic translation of texts from one language into another using a computer program is known as machine translation. So-called computer-assisted translationwhere a computer program assists the human translator, is not machine translation.
Sources of error in machine-generated translations
The three main sources of error in machine-generated translations are
- Lack of contextualization
- Insufficient cultural adaptation
- Limited expertise
and are then explained individually.
Lack of contextualization
In human translation, it is natural to recognize complex relationships and to grasp the entire context of a text. Machines, on the other hand, often reach their limits here. They tend to translate sentence by sentence without fully understanding the relationships between the individual parts of the text. This can lead to the actual meaning being lost, which in turn can lead to misunderstandings. Machine translations therefore often struggle to accurately capture the context of a text, which can lead to inaccurate or inappropriate results.
Example 1: The word "Schloss" can mean both "castle" (castle as a building) and "lock" (locking mechanism) in German. A machine might have difficulty recognizing the correct context and could mistakenly translate "Schloss" as "lock". This leads to a meaningless translation, as a "lock" cannot be "full of history". The context that it is a historical building is lost.
Example 2: The machine might have difficulty processing the complex sentence structure and correctly grasping the chronological sequence of events. In the machine translation, the sentence could be grammatically correct, but the nuances of the German syntax, which emphasizes the order and importance of the actions, could be lost. This leads to a less precise rendering of the original meaning and could lead to a misunderstanding in the context of the whole text.
| Example | Source text | Machine translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The castle is old and full of history. | The lock is old and full of history. |
| 2 |
After he had finished his work, he went home, where his family was already waiting.
|
After he finished the work, he went home, where his family was already waiting. |
Insufficient cultural adaptation
Cultural nuances and local conditions are difficult for machines to understand and translate, which can lead to embarrassing or inappropriate results.
Example 1: In many German-speaking countries, it is customary to place boots or shoes in front of the door on the eve of St. Nicholas Day so that St. Nicholas can fill them with sweets and small gifts overnight. A machine translation might not recognize this custom and translate the text literally into another language. In countries where this custom is unknown, the reader may not understand why someone would put their shoes outside the door, leading to confusion. The cultural context behind this custom is lost in the machine translation and the text may seem meaningless or incomprehensible to the reader.
Example 2The term "carnival" has different meanings in different cultures. While carnival in Germany is often associated with dressing up, parades and certain rituals, the word "carnival" can evoke completely different associations in other cultures (e.g. in the USA or Brazil). A machine might not recognize the cultural context and translate the text in such a way that the reader has a completely different image of the celebration in the target language, leading to confusion.
Limited expertise
Machines have difficulty translating specialized terminology and complex concepts correctly, especially in fields such as medicine, law and engineering.
Example 1: The term "ligand" is a technical term in chemistry that is precisely defined and used precisely in scientific texts. However, a machine without in-depth technical knowledge could simply translate the term "binds" as "connects". While this translation is understandable in common parlance, it is inaccurate in the chemical context, as "binds" in technical jargon refers to a specific type of compound that plays an important role in chemistry. This imprecision could make the text unclear or even misleading for experts because the exact scientific meaning is not correctly rendered.
Example 2: Although the machine translation may appear correct at first glance, a program without sufficient legal expertise may have difficulty recognizing the nuances and specific meanings in different legal systems. In German law, the term "rechtskräftig" has a specific meaning that refers to the moment when a contract or judgment is final and can no longer be challenged. The term "legally binding" might not express the same finality in this context. This can lead to misunderstandings, especially when the text is used in a legal context where precise terms are crucial. A misunderstanding or inaccurate translation can have serious legal consequences, as important details in the contract could be overlooked or misinterpreted.
Advantages & disadvantages of machine translations
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Speed | Lack of contextualization |
| Cost efficiency | Limited expertise |
| Availability & accessibility | Problems with cultural references and nuances |
| Useful for simple or preliminary translations | Lack of creativity and flexibility |
| Support through continuous improvement | Danger of misunderstandings |
| Differences in quality |
Machine translations offer the advantage of translating texts quickly and cost-effectively, which makes them particularly useful for simple or preliminary translations. They are available anytime and anywhere and are continuously improving thanks to artificial intelligence.
However, they also have disadvantages: Machines often fail to capture the full context, which can lead to inaccurate or misleading translations, especially for technical or culturally specific texts. They also lack the ability to make creative adaptations, which can affect the quality and comprehensibility of the translation.
Helpful machine translation tools
- Known for its high translation quality and ability to capture context better than many other tools, especially for more complex texts.
- One of the best known and most widely used tools that supports many languages and offers a simple user interface. Particularly useful for quick and easy translations.
- Provides translations in many languages and is well integrated with Microsoft products. It also offers real-time conversational translation features.
- A combination of a dictionary and a translation tool that provides contextual translations through examples from real texts, which is particularly useful for translating phrases and idiomatic expressions.
Man or machine? The added value of human translators
In the debate between machine and human translators, it is clear that human translators offer significant advantages that machines cannot match. Here are the main reasons why humans are still indispensable:
Human translators therefore offer clear added value, especially when it comes to precision, cultural sensitivity and customized solutions. While machines can deliver fast results, humans remain unbeatable when it comes to the quality and adaptability of the translation.
Conclusion
While machine translation and AI offer fast and cost-effective solutions, they often fall short when it comes to context, cultural adaptation and technical accuracy. Human translators and professional translation agencies remain essential to ensure your communication is accurate, culturally appropriate and of the highest quality.
