23 Dec About Google Translate
In what way (and has) Google Translate reduced the need for professional translation of e-mail messages?
As online translation programs keep improving, an increasing number of people use these free applications for translating their private correspondence via e-mail or Skype. Of course, automatic translations are not always precise, but in certain situations, they represent a satisfactory manner of translating texts of this kind.
Quality aside, but online translators have two very distinct advantages: they are free and momentary. However, they can sometimes twist the meaning of your message to such an extent that it sounds meaningless.
Advice for better quality of this kind of translation:
Try to make your text as simple as possible, with the shortest possible sentences.
Avoid idioms, slang or jargon, because machines don’t recognize metaphoric meaning, and they translate text literally.
Avoid ambiguous words, e.g. homonyms, words which sound identical and have different meanings.
Pay attention to cultural characteristics of the society. Idioms or jargons being used in your surroundings may sound rude in other cultures.
Of course, one should keep in mind that hiring professional translators can only help, since not only will you leave a better impression in communication, but you will also avoid potential traps which can arise due to cultural differences between different societies. Apart from that, using these applications may influence your reputation and cause misunderstanding between you and your clients, so we believe that for formal discussions (cooperation offers or job applications) it is better that you hire professional translators after all.
No Comments