Top 5 Reasons Why Human Translation is Better Than Automatic or AI Systems

Automatic translation systems are improving all the time, but they still can't match the quality of human translations. People have the ability to understand the nuances of language and culture, which automatic systems cannot replicate. These tech solutions also tend to produce translations that are more literal than accurate, while human translators can produce translations that sound natural and idiomatic. Human translators can also adjust the written or oral text according to the context of a text, whereas automatic systems are not as adaptable. Overall, human translation is still superior to automatic translation for accuracy, fluency, and cultural understanding.

1 – Human Translators Understand Textual Context Better

People can understand and produce language due to our ability to contextualize it. They can take into account the surrounding words and their meanings in order to better understand what is being said. This is why translation software often fails to deliver the best results. It does not have the power to consider all the contextual clues that a human translator can. While AI systems get better all the time, translation is one field where nuance matters. Even things like the tone of voice or nonverbal communication can affect the meaning of the words.

2 – Automatic Systems Are Frequently Slower

Despite the tech advances for automatic translation systems, the systems are frequently slower than human translators. This is likely because the systems are trying to keep up with all of the latest translations, colloquialisms, and jargon, whereas human translators can use their accumulated knowledge to make more accurate translations faster. Additionally, automatic translation systems can often produce awkward or nonsensical translations if they do not have a large enough data set to work from.

3 – Get More Natural Language With the Human Element

Thanks to their linguistic skills and intimate knowledge of both source and target languages, translators are able to ensure that translations read naturally and convey the original meaning and tone of the source text. In other words, they deliver more natural translations.

This is especially important when translating texts that are meant for public consumption, such as marketing materials, website content and news articles. By incorporating the human element into translation, translators can help ensure that translations are accurate and properly formatted.

4 – Incorporate Cultural Understanding to the Message

When it comes to cross-cultural communication, you must remain respectful of the other person’s culture. This means considering their values and traditions and adapting your message accordingly. It also helps to be aware of any cultural differences that may affect both spoken and written communication. Also, different cultures often use different words and expressions. This can make translation difficult, as the same words can have different meanings depending on the context. Obviously, you need a well-educated and experienced person to handle these types of situations in a respectful manner.

5 – Translation Experts Can Ask for Clarification

When working with a translator, clear communication is not automatic. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to ask questions when someone does not understand something. Human translators can ask for clarification on behalf of the person they are helping, which brings about a better result on all sides. No AI platform will interrupt the speaker or contact a document preparer on someone’s behalf and ask for more information. The ability to deliver a positive customer service experience with translation services is something that only people can do.