Artificial intelligence is taking remarkable strides in almost every field of our lives. From smartphones to self-driving cars, technology has made its way into our daily routine. And this isn’t it. With time, everything is going autonomous, and the reason behind this is the advancement in the field of AI. In the age of AI, human translators offer nuanced interpretation and cultural context, crucial when working with technologies like Chinese OCR.
In recent times, you might have encountered a popular debate, and that is human vs. AI. Well, we can expect this debate to end soon. In the coming years, humans and robots are going to work side by side, assisting each other in handling complex projects.
One prominent field in which artificial intelligence has already found its place is the translation industry. Along with the rise of globalization and digitalization, it has become a lot easier to connect with international audiences. However, one problem remains the same, and that is language barriers. AI plays a crucial role in the growth of the translation industry; however, we cannot underestimate human expertise in this regard.
AI’s Impact on the Translation Industry
Translation is a complex process. It isn’t just about the conversion of words from one language to another; it requires subject-matter expertise to ensure linguistic and cultural accuracy in the target language. This makes it a time-consuming process. Getting human translations of lengthy documents usually takes days. However, due to the high level of competition, the need for speedy translation is increasing. This is where AI comes in.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is not a new concept. It has been around for years. And throughout this period, the industry has seen so much advancement. Today, the model that is working in the field of translation is NMT (Neural Machine Translation).
Neural Machine Translation
NMT is a cutting-edge approach that leverages AI for superior translation quality. Unlike traditional methods relying on predefined rules, neural machine translation utilizes complex networks. As the name suggests, it works like a human brain. It is like an intricate web-like structure that learns from the massive amount of available data.
By analyzing given data, the network develops the ability to recognize patterns. Then, it predicts the most likely translation for a given text in the target language. Through this, NMT manages to capture the context and nuances of the source language, leading to more natural-sounding translations. While not perfect, NMT helps handle large volumes of text quickly. Moreover, it helps in breaking down language barriers for basic communication.
Limitation of AI in Translation
Even with the high advancement rate, AI still struggles with a few things. Well, these things are the essence of the content that makes the translation precise and accurate. Let’s take a look:
Cultural Nuances and Contextual Intricacies
AI fails to translate the cultural nuances and contextual intricacies. After all, it is a program based on data sets, which only helps it generate linguistically accurate translations. Jokes, idioms, and references specific to a culture often rely on shared understanding. AI, lacking real-world experience, struggles to understand the cultural nuances and contextual intricacies.
Moreover, AI fails to detect words with multiple meanings. It is trained on statistical associations and struggles to deliver the intended meaning in sarcasm, puns, or figurative language. Furthermore, each field has its own technical terms and vocabulary. AI trained on general text data doesn’t contain the specialized knowledge required for accurate translation in medical, engineering, and legal contexts.
Poor or inaccurate translations can cost a lot of money. For example, Mercedes-Benz, a German card brand, missed the mark when it launched in China. At first, the company failed to acquire the right Chinese translation services and translated the company name as Bensi. In Chinese, Bensi means ‘rush to your death’ which is completely against their culture. Because in the Chinese context, you cannot use blood, death, skull, or words like these. They are strictly restricted. Just for your information, the company (Mercedes-Benz) got it right in the second attempt, and replaced Bensi with Ben Chi, which means ‘Dashing Speed.’
Why Human Translations are Important?
This section emphasizes the areas where human expertise remains vital in translation.
High-Stakes Translation
In translation, accuracy and precision are paramount. Misinterpretation of legal documents, financial documents, and medical reports can cause severe consequences. A minor mistake can lead to legal disputes, financial losses, and life-threatening medical errors.
Moreover, a translator requires a deep understanding of the specific domain. It doesn’t only require fluency in languages but also subject-matter expertise. This ensures accurate translation of industry-specific terms and avoids ambiguities. Certainly, this is not within the reach of AI. Only a professional translation company with native and industry-specific translators can provide accurate, to-the-point translations.
Transcreation
Poetry, literature, and marketing materials rely heavily on the author’s unique style and tone. The task requires more than just translation. A human translator can understand the intended message and creatively translate it while preserving the original tone and essence of the content. This requires not just literal translation but also cultural understanding and the ability to adapt the language that resonates with the target audience. Such content requires transcreation, and skilled native professionals are the best possible choice for that.
Conclusion
While AI translation offers efficiency and speed, human expertise remains irreplaceable in creative endeavors and high-stakes situations. To sum up, the need for cultural understanding, critical thinking, and the ability to capture the original essence of the source material are reasons why human translators will always be in the loop.
Lily James 
BAKHAT ALI MALIK