The translation market, technology, and selling trustworthiness. Anthony Pym

TL;DR

Technology, such as machine translation, has automated a significant portion of the translation process, but professional translators still play a crucial role in ensuring accurate and trustworthy translations in various domains.

Transcript

i've been asked to talk about the market for translation and i'm happy to do so i won't talk very much about the market in china because i'm working outside of china and i'm going to address the impact of technology people say oh why are we still training translators when we have free online machine translation and that's a very good question and t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🖐️ Machine translation, such as Google Translate, processes an enormous volume of words daily, but professional translators still play a vital role in ensuring accurate translations.
• 🥺 Automation increases productivity and can stimulate the demand for translations, but it also changes the nature of jobs and can lead to wage disparities.
• 🏙️ The translation market is increasingly dominated by large companies and cities, where the rewards of automation are concentrated.
• ✋ Technology-related skills, such as proficiency in translation software and IT, are in high demand in the translation industry.
• 👶 The automation of project management and the increasing complexity of translation services present new challenges and opportunities for translators.
• 🏣 Translators can specialize in areas such as post-editing, transcreation, and accessibility management to adapt to the changing market.
• ❓ Trustworthiness and communication skills are becoming crucial in establishing the value of professional translators in an automated market.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why are professional translators still needed despite the availability of free online machine translation?

While machine translation has its uses, it often lacks the accuracy, nuance, and cultural understanding that professional translators provide. Professional translators can ensure the highest quality translations, especially for specialized domains or sensitive content.

Q: What is the impact of automation on the translation industry?

Automation has undoubtedly changed the translation industry, with machine translation handling a significant volume of translations. However, it has also created new job opportunities, such as post-editing, revision, and reviewing. Automation has altered the nature of jobs in the industry rather than eliminating them entirely.

Q: How does technology affect the job prospects for translators?

Technology has both positive and negative effects on job prospects. While larger language service providers and cities benefit from automation, smaller companies and individual translators may struggle to adapt and compete. However, translators who embrace technology, such as learning how to utilize translation memory systems and workflow tools, can enhance their employability.

Q: How can translators establish trustworthiness in an automated market?

Translators can establish trustworthiness through various signals, such as certification by professional associations like the American Translators Association and displaying membership in relevant professional organizations. Experience, education, and word-of-mouth recommendations are also crucial in building trust with clients.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The market for translation is affected by automation through free online machine translation systems like Google Translate, which process billions of words daily.

• Despite automation, there is still a need for professional translators, as machine translation alone cannot provide the same level of accuracy and trustworthiness.

• Machine translation can aid professional translators in their work, but it is not the only option, and translators can specialize in other areas, such as post-editing or transcreation.