The transition to digital has created extraordinary international business prospects, with high-quality translation and localization often being key drivers of growth. As translation budgets become tighter and technology continues to advance, MTPE translation services are increasingly seen as a viable option. MTPE technology is yielding more accurate translations and plays an important role in both the translation and business sectors.
While both machine translation and human translation involve converting words into different languages, they serve distinct needs and have critical differences. Recognizing the distinctions between machine and human translation can help you better understand the best approach for your business and optimize your translation strategy for the best outcomes.
What is Machine Translation Post-Editing?
While some people refer to it as post-editing machine translation (PEMT), the more commonly used terms are machine translation post-editing and MTPE.
MTPE is a translation procedure in which a document is first processed through a machine translation (MT) engine, and then a human editor proofreads the output.
One might consider MTPE a hybrid, or even a cyborg solution to the issue of high demand in the translation industry. MTPE blends both human skill and machine efficiency to provide a quick and cost-effective solution while maintaining a certain standard for the quality of the result.
Types of MTPE
If you don’t know much about the field, chances are you don’t know what to expect from MTPE translation services. You may think that MTPE results are inferior to human translation, or that MTPE and human translation have no difference. Well, neither is wrong. Different kinds of post-editing have different outcomes.
When you hire reliable machine translation services in India, they will provide you with two types of post-editing services such as light post-editing and full post-editing.
Light Post Editing
Through the light post-editing process, certified MTPE services in India can make a text understandable.
In this process, the text is translated by machine translation process, then a human translator proofreads to fix any grammatical error they find and clarify confusing or inaccurate phrases.
A machine cannot perform every task as effectively as a human, which means that the quality of machine translation may be lower than that of a human translator. However, the process of machine translation post-editing (MTPE) compensates for these shortcomings by offering more affordable and quicker delivery. Hiring an MTPE translation service is an excellent solution for temporary internal needs.
Full Post Editing
Once you hire reliable MTPE translation services, their process is a more thorough approach that involves proofreading, clarification, and mainly revisions to ensure the text can be readable in natural form as a human-translated text. The post-editor will maintain a cohesive tone and style, and complete accuracy of terms and phrases, during the process of editing. Apart from that, many times it is also about a human translator taking the responsibility for cultural and linguistic nuances that tend to be lost by machine translation.
MTPE vs. Raw MT and Human Translation
Since we have mentioned human translations and raw machine translations offered by good MTPE translation services, let’s explore how these differ from post-machine translation editing. Here’s a simple look at their essential differences:
Quality and Accuracy
Post-editing translations offer a balance of speed and quality. Machines handle the initial translation, and humans refine it to ensure accuracy and nuance. On the contrary, raw machine translation is swift but usually inaccurate, as it lacks human oversight, leading to errors and missing cultural context.
Meanwhile, Human translation is believed to be the most accurate and culturally relevant alternative for any business. Human translators ensure precision and proper context, making it perfect for high-quality requirements.
Speed and Efficiency
Compared to human translation, post-edited machine translation is faster because machines do most of the work, with humans refining it. Human translation will be the slowest translation procedure due to the detailed work of translators, ensuring the best quality. The fastest translation process option is raw machine translation. However, despite providing quick and immediate translations, it continually sacrifices quality.
The Benefits of MTPE
Now that we’ve discussed the difference between MTPE, Raw MT, and human translation, let’s learn about the benefits of a hybrid approach for translating large amounts of content. Here are the main advantages:
Cost-Effectiveness
Using machine translation technology for initial translations saves time and effort for human translators. This decrease in labor leads to lower costs for clients, making professional MTPE translation services more affordable and accessible.
Speed and Efficiency
Post-machine translation editing accelerates the translation process. Machines can quickly process substantial amounts of text, providing an initial translation that human editors can refine. This results in faster turnaround times without sacrificing quality, which is particularly beneficial for clients facing tight deadlines.
Consistency and Uniformity
Machine translation systems are adept at ensuring consistency, especially in repetitive and technical texts. Post-edited machine translation guarantees that terminology, style, and formatting remain consistent throughout the document. Human editors can enhance the output while adhering to specific guidelines and glossaries.
Scalability
Post-editing machine translation authorizes language translation services to scale more efficiently. Machines handle the initial translation, making it more comfortable to manage larger or multiple projects simultaneously. This scalability is important for companies expanding into global markets without being hindered by language barriers.
Conclusion
Both MTPE translation services and human translation offer different advantages, and the key to your business success lies in choosing the right balance for your specific needs. If speed and cost-effectiveness are your priorities, MTPE provides a powerful hybrid solution that uses machine efficiency with human accuracy.
On the other hand, for content that demands cultural sensitivity, and creativity, human translation remains unmatched. It is up to you to decide what will be the best for your business.