Another Discussion About Human and Computer Assisted Translation Quality

Machine translation or automatic translation is an accepted part of many translation services these days and there are few English German translation service providers who are unaware of the pros and cons associated with the technology. Automated technology has been evolving quite fast and these days the more sophisticated technology allows human translators to intervene in a way they were unable to before and it is not seen as a definitive alternative to human translation itself.

It should be recognised here that by non human or computer aided translation we are not referring to the simplest type of computer translation which can be readily accessed on the internet. These are rarely used by professional German translators or shouldn’t be! However they do have a place when used by the individual who wants to know quickly what an individual phrase might mean or wants to compose an email to a foreign business or supplier in a simple sort of way and is not prepared to wait for a professional translator to do the job for them.

The type of translation described in the last paragraph certainly has its uses, but is not up to the standard of most translation requirements. Computer aided translation software and related technology has been specifically designed to help the professional German translator cope with voluminous and often repetitive text. Instead of laboriously translating this sort of text every time it arises, it can be remembered by translation software and then used in any translation task. Basically, the translation memory is instructed to retain chunks of translated text whenever these chunks are repeatedly used over and over again.

In some translation tasks, a German translation service will use the computer assisted software to translate a text, and then improve it based on their own translation and language experience. This cuts down the time taken to complete a translation task without compromising on quality. This is of benefit to both the translation provider and the client. The client benefits because the time taken to retrieve what they wanted to translate is reduced and the translator benefits by completing more work and therefore earning more money in the same time period.

What the computer aided translation technology cannot do very well is translate nuanced text and idiomatic expressions. Time and time again, attempts to incorporate more idiomatic expressions into this sort of translation software have been unsuccessful as it is often completely context dependent.

There have been estimates that in the near future that “intelligent” robots could take the place of as many as 50% of all jobs presently performed by people, but it seems that human translators are still quite safe from getting the sack, even if some of them are beginning to look over their shoulder!

Trustworthy Australian Based German Document Translation Services

Finding a trustworthy German document translation service provider just about anywhere in Australia is quite easy as there are a number of very good translation services available. If you do not need to meet the translator personally, then finding a German translation service online is easy and it doesn’t really matter where you live as there are suitable translators in every city.

Unless the documents you have are not particularly important you should stick to a German NAATI translator to do the document translation for you. If your documents are intended to be submitted to any government agency or to an employer, then you may find that only documents that have been translated by an accredited NAATI translator are acceptable, anyway.

Not all German translation service providers specialise so it is worth reading the translation company’s own website quite carefully before you approach them to ask for a quote. If, for instance, you have medical or legal documents you want translating, then make sure that the translation service specialises in that sort of document translation.

If you want certificates or personal documents like birth and marriage certificates, educational and professional qualifications and employment records translated these are usually the sorts of documents that just about any sort of translator will be able to do for you. The only difference might be in the price per document (they usually charge by the word) or the turn-around time and if they provide an express service or are able to translate at awkward times such as weekends or public holidays. Usually, there is a surcharge for these services.

If you do have a lot of translation work needed and it is likely to be ongoing, then it makes sense to build up a working relationship with the translation company and especially with the translator who is likely to do most of the German translation for you. You will want to keep a translation service that is open to communication and listens to the specific details of what you want.

Remember that it is unlikely that you will understand any of your documents once they are translated, so it is important that you can trust the translator to do the job well. You will get feedback from the people you send your documents to, so that will help you to feel confident that the translator you have chosen is indeed doing a good job. Also remember that you can help the translator do their work better by making sure that you provide clear, easy to understand instructions about the nature of the document and who it is intended for.

German English Translation can be Trickier Than You Think!

German and English are quite closely related languages and many of the source words in English are similar to the equivalent in German, but somehow this doesn’t make English to German or German to English translation any easier. German English translation can be trickier than you think!

It doesn’t take too much examination of poorly translated text to confirm that translation quality is just as important for these two languages as it is for any other. If the documents or material that needs to be translated have any importance at all, then a German NAATI translator with a solid grounding in both languages is to be preferred.

Here are some sample translation examples that demonstrate how what seems to be easy to translate phrases or paragraphs can end up in what becomes a clumsy expression or even worse, misunderstandings that could have been avoided with a more careful choice of German translator.

Take this example from a series of signs posted in a German camp site. The notices had been translated into English for the benefit of any English speaking campers. The German used was excellent and the translated text could easily be understood, but appeared quite clumsy and this is probably because the German translator used was simply not proficient enough in English.

The notice used the German word “geschirrwaschstelle” and the translator translated this in English as “an installation for dish washing”. The English speaking camper would have worked out that this meant what they would normally refer to as a “place to wash your dishes”.

The same notice also used a German expression, that wouldn’t have raised a single German speaker’s eyebrow, intended to politely point campers in the right direction when they wanted to have a shower, but the German translator translated this into English as “making their toilet in a personal grooming location”. The English speaking camper would probably have had a laugh at this clumsy translation but still understood that it meant “use the bathroom for your personal hygiene needs”.

A second example is from an advert posted by a language school in Frankfurt which was hoping to attract English speakers to sign up for German language lessons. The advert had several technical errors, mainly in the use of articles which a German NAATI translator should have got right if used. One phrase said “We assist you to fully merge in the German language”. This would have caused some confusion probably because the German translator mistook the words “merge” and “immerse”, which certainly seem to be spelled similarly, yet have different meanings. The phrase rewritten as “We help you to fully immerse yourself in the German language” would have been a much better choice of words.

There are plenty of examples like this which demonstrate the difference between a professional and amateur translation quality. Poorly translated texts can lose contracts, cause confusion, hilarity or embarrassment, so if your translation needs are important, don’t hesitate to choose a professional and reliable German NAATI translator.

Are Communication Standards Falling in Translation?

There are a number of English speaking countries that are failing to use standard English when conveying messages or product information in the language. This is not only misleading, but can also damage product promotion.

Global education is a sector that can lose out if any incorrect language is used when marketing the education product to students and other agencies wishing to gain advantages from education in overseas countries by marketing an education product in their own country.

Australia, for example, relies on education agents overseas in order to recruit students to educational institutions of all kinds in Australia. It is crucial that the educational information provided to overseas countries is translated accurately and is persuasive without being misleading. There have been cases where students have been recommended for courses that have been unsuitable and have damaged Australia’s reputation as a good education provider.

There have also been instances where students have been misled by offshore agents when it comes to visa requirements when entering Australia for study purposes.  Some of this misunderstanding is due to mistranslation as well as omission of facts because their importance has been underrated.  A good German translator would ensure no misunderstanding would take place.

Poor communication has also taken place between students and persuasive education agents who have tried to persuade students to change agents so that they get a better deal when it comes to selecting an educational institution in Australia. Prospective students can easily be misled if important information is lost in translations.

Due to misunderstandings and confusion regarding study in Australia, the Australian Education Department at federal level is trying to find ways of ensuring that students get the highest quality of information on courses whether it’s through an education agent in their own country or through communication with a provider in Australia. If the student is coming to Australia from Germany he or she should ensure that the course content, visa requirements and information such as working while a student in Australia should be clearly translated by a German English translator who is experienced as an English German translator too.