
Human translation VS Machine translation
Machine translation appears to make things easier especially when time and resources are limited. Most machine translation services even have free online trial so that potential clients can test the service before they commit themselves to be paying for it. It works well in some cases but why does machine translation not meet the needs of all people who use it? There are some other key elements that make human translation superior.
Context
The context of a phrase, word and expression may change the meaning of a language from one individual to another. Many dialects of the world have variations and just because the people of Thailand speak Thai as their national language for instance does not mean they speak the same variant throughout the region. It is very difficult therefore for a machine translating service to utilize dialect and sub tribe variation in giving the correct meaning of what was said.
Localization
Dealing with human beings entails reading their emotions, moods and facial expressions. It is only through using a human translator that one is able to capture the emotion of a piece of communication. A translator may not work the same way a journalist will in reporting on a story but they are the best in tuning a message to suit their audience. Translators are people who have been trained on the study and interpretation of human expressions and they know what information someone is looking for just by watching their reactions. This is a very important aspect of translation because it enables the message to be received as intended.
Experience
Using human translator is the best because there is the element of perfection from working on the same thing for years. It may be possible to upgrade a machine translator, but a human translator picks up language variation, modifications and evolvement much faster than any machine would possibly be able to do. In practice human translators are people who have had an interest in language for a long time and therefore they have the history of how language evolves. This is why it is possible to get a translator give you the name of an item that was used decades ago but is no longer in use. A machine will not be able to do the same.