With businesses expanding globally and individuals seeking access to information in their native languages, the translation industry has evolved significantly. However, the emergence of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), has brought about both challenges and opportunities for translators and localization professionals. In this article, we'll explore the latest trends and developments in the translation and localization industry and delve into the impact of technology on language services.
The AI Storm: “We Didn't Know What Hit Us”
The infusion of AI technologies, including machine translation and natural language processing, has completely transformed the translation terrain. These advancements have remarkably amplified the swiftness and efficacy of translation procedures, prompting speculation about the trajectory of human translators in the field. Undeniably, AI's disruptive influence on the industry has left some translators uneasy about the encroachment of automation. Furthermore, for professionals who consistently monitor market dynamics and demand, it's evident that the quality and quantity of available translation and copywriting projects are on a pronounced downward trajectory.
The Renaissance of Human Translation
Contrary to the doomsday predictions, the value that translators bring to the table is not easily replaceable by AI. In the confrontation between human translation and AI translation, the enduring value contributed by human translators is akin to the classical permanence of cinemas, rather than the fleeting value of Blockbuster DVDs, which saw their demise with the rise of cloud-based digital media. Just as cinema made a comeback after being briefly overshadowed by evolving technologies, human translators will reclaim their prominence thanks to their timeless expertise, cultural insights, and nuanced understanding of language.
One key reason is that AI may excel in certain aspects of translation, but it often falls short when it comes to capturing the subtleties of language and cultural nuances, and it doesn’t fully grasp the intricacies of behavioral motives — the subsurface currents, composed of desires, rejections, fears, aspirations, and everything in between, that truly fuel human actions.
The Best Days for Translation and Content Writing and Yet to Come
Embracing technological advancements is not just advisable, it's essential. History vividly demonstrates how resistance to progress often hampers remarkable human achievements, stifled by the interests of select groups. While resistance may seem futile, do we truly desire to resist, even if we possess the capability? Is the dazing storming of AI in the field of content creation and translation really a categorical negative, or can we even harness this technology to our advantage?
I firmly believe that adaptation is paramount for translators and localization professionals. We must embrace change and leverage it to our advantage. For instance, now we can take on much larger projects and deliver them to our clients in a reasonable time frame. We can also upskill in areas such as post-editing of machine translations, software localization, and transcreation, It also means delving deeper into understanding that a good translation must incorporate elements of creativity. This involves filling in the gaps of a vaguely articulated phrase, providing substance to a concept that never fully materialized into a complete idea, and so on.
Translators are akin to intellectual acrobats, constantly navigating the delicate balance between staying true to the original text and avoiding phrases that defy comprehension in any known language to date. Whether you are conscious of it or not, every single act of translation contains an inevitable component of transcreation. And this, my friend, is the artistic dimension of being a translator—a skill you should not disown but rather wear as a badge of honor.
Furthermore, when we consider the wealth of knowledge acquired from various fields of study (see more about this topic in this article), as well as insights gained from life experiences and social interactions, the disparity between the services we offer and those provided by AI becomes evident, akin to a quantum leap.
If you think that AI cannot compete yet with human translation, let Lingoverse know how our team of experts can help you advance the goals of your business or organization. Let's talk!
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