Professional translation is a highly technical discipline that demands precision, adherence to safety standards, and optimal productivity. The terminology involved can be exceedingly specialized or specific to a particular brand, necessitating utmost fidelity across all languages. Translation is executed by either a professional human translator or a machine through automated processes (machine translation). Additionally, a hybrid approach may be employed, involving both machine and human intervention during the correction and adjustment phase.
The utilization of professional translation software allows for the translation of text from a source language to a target language without direct human involvement. This tool facilitates the instantaneous translation of sentences, paragraphs, files, or web pages into the desired language. Moreover, it can serve as a foundational framework for human translators in their work.
What are the advantages of a Machine Translation Solutions?
Why use a machine translation solution
Machine translation and human translation are complementary.
Machine translation has advantages:
A professional translation solution has the capability to process large volumes of text for translation within a short timeframe, thereby enhancing the productivity of human translators.
Machine translation software, leveraging its database and artificial intelligence, potentially offers broader language coverage. Unlike human translation, which is limited by the translator’s language proficiency, a machine translation tool can handle translations across more than 100 languages.
Furthermore, to optimize machine translation, specialized and customized translation models can be developed, delivering superior raw quality before any human intervention. These tailored translation templates contribute to the precision and speed of automatic language translation.
Translators often utilize Computer-Aided Translation (CAT) software, such as SDL Trados Studio or MemoQ, for content translation. These tools provide matches between texts to be translated and previously translated segments stored in the tool’s database.
The translator then validates or modifies the translation results, leveraging their expertise to ensure text consistency and high translation quality. Integrating Translation Memory (TAO) and Machine Translation (MT) into the translation process helps save time and costs, allowing human translators to focus on their added value. Post-editing of segments translated automatically by the tool is part of this process.
Another advantage is the ability to translate various file formats and media, crucial for handling design or non-editable formats like PDFs. Collaborative translation is also facilitated on CAT tools, enabling translators to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Machine Translation as a first step
Machine translation solutions seamlessly integrate with Computer-Aided Translation (CAT) software, enabling translators to initially utilize the machine for the first pass of translation and subsequently apply their expertise in post-editing. This approach ensures a precise translation and enhances the overall consistency of the texts. Additionally, it results in cost and time savings—expediting the translation process—while still recognizing and valuing the linguistic expertise of the translator.
How does a professional translation tool work?
Professional translation software in the industry is available in different architectures and deployment modes: behind the company’s firewall, in a private cloud, or in a public cloud.
Cloud-based services provide accessibility to translations from any device, allowing seamless integration of translation solutions into desktop tools and business applications through plugins.
Neural Machine Translation, often referred to as “Neural” translation, employs an intelligent instant translation process using AI. This machine translation solution utilizes a neural network inspired by the human brain, consisting of approximately 300 million parameters. This design enhances its effectiveness in analyzing and processing translations of professional documents. The machine learns from translations validated by humans, a process known as training translation engines.
Storage of translated data can be executed in two ways: through solutions hosted directly in the company’s IT environment for enhanced security, or via a cloud where the data is stored. Some free software stores translated data, as mentioned in DeepL’s GTC, but this may raise concerns about data protection if servers are not managed by European companies or located outside the territory. The solution to this issue is to have a sovereign cloud subject to the extraterritoriality of laws, providing control over data deletion. Certain solutions offer options to not store translated data, allowing users to determine when and what to delete.
However, only a few machine translation solutions guarantee both the deletion of stored data and data sovereignty. SYSTRAN stands out as one of these secure solutions, prioritizing the protection of your data.
The different types of translation
There are several types of translation
How do I translate a PDF?
A PDF is a document whose layout can’t be modified without the appropriate software? It can contains images, texts, or even editable fields, for example a form. This type of document is not suitable for copying / pasting and not all solutiuons accept PDF formats.
However, it remains one of the most exchanged document formats in the world of work, and therefore a professional translation solution must be able to process them – offering the same quality of service, with a precise and specialized vocabulary.
The challenge of translating documents in this format is also to maintain the formatting of the content once it has been translated.
Translate official documents : opt for certified translation
Documents of a legal or professional nature, such as Kbis, contracts, invitations to tender, etc., must undergo translation under specific conditions. Their translation is termed as “certified,” and it is a requirement that it be conducted by a translator certified by the court of appeal. The translated text must bear a seal and an identification number.
In this process, machine translation plays a crucial role as it serves as the initial translation foundation for the sworn translator. The sworn translator then contributes their linguistic expertise, ensuring the document’s legality and providing the necessary certification through the application of a seal and an identification number on the translated text. This collaborative approach combines the efficiency of machine translation with the precision and legal assurance provided by a certified human translator.
How do I translate a web page?
There are plugins that automatically translate visited webpages, which can be set to translate pages automatically or just on demand with one click.
These plugins are available on all browsers, in mobile and desktop versions.
How do I translate an email?
To facilitate communication with your customers, suppliers, and international collaborators, employing automatic translation for your emails in foreign languages, including any attachments, can save time and enhance the fluidity of your exchanges.
Nevertheless, it is crucial to exercise caution regarding privacy issues and the hosting of translated data. The information exchanged via email often contains sensitive data, and ensuring the security and privacy of such information should be a priority. It’s advisable to use secure and reputable translation tools or services that prioritize data protection to safeguard the confidentiality of your communications.
