Can machine translation replace a translator?
Not entirely. A computer cannot understand the intricacies of language and effectively convey a particular message the way a human translator can. Idioms and parts of speech, for example, cannot be recognized and correctly translated by a computer. Also, words can have multiple meanings—and therefore translations—that are context specific, which a computer cannot recognize. There is therefore a very high risk of terminological and grammatical inaccuracy. Subsequent human review of a machine translation is an option, albeit often more time-intensive than working from scratch. However, many other computer applications are available to assist the translator in the translation process. TripleInk, for example, uses SDL TRADOS—a terminology management and translation memory software suite—to improve accuracy and consistency and to accelerate the translation process.
