Beyond machine translation: the human value for business
With the new technologies of the 21st century, it seems natural to think that translators are superfluous, replaced by faster computers with access to huge databases. But is translation really just about moving from language A to language B?
Human translators possess a skill that machines have not yet been able to replicate: a mind capable of interpreting implicit meaning and grasping linguistic nuances, such as irony and puns.
Relying on a professional translator also means relying on a subject-matter expert. In specialised translations such as technical manuals or medical reports, choosing the correct terminology is crucial. A single incorrect word can lead to serious consequences. Moreover, many legal documents require certified translations that can only be signed by an authorized translator – we cannot ask a machine to “take responsibility” for them.
Many clients seek translators with expertise in specific fields, not just general linguistic knowledge. Creativity often plays a crucial role! In advertising, machine translation carries significant risks: even a small error can undermine the effectiveness of a message, making it unintentionally humorous or ineffective. For example, the English expression “Power to you” is often automatically translated as “Potere a te ” or “Forza a te ”, which are less impactful than a more engaging solution such as “Tutto il potere nelle tue mani ”.
The cultural and stylistic mediation of a text is another area in which translators can fully demonstrate their skills, since finding creative solutions is particularly challenging for algorithms, which often struggle with ambiguity and are not designed to interpret language beyond its literal meaning.
Digital tools and software are designed to support and enhance translators’ work (and that of anyone else), not to replace them. Competent translators also stand out for their level of technological proficiency.
Continuous professional development and familiarity with new technologies lead to better performance and greater competitiveness in the market, while also increasing efficiency. Today’s companies demand high-quality content delivered quickly. In this context, machine translation provides a useful first draft, but it is ultimately the human translator who reviews the text, decides what to keep, what to correct, and how to refine it.
Technology is a natural part of modern evolution, and when used correctly it does not replace humans but enhances their capabilities. In translation, AI can speed up processes, but only a professional translator can ensure quality, consistency and cultural appropriateness. For companies, it is therefore essential to consciously manage these tools – maintaining control over them rather than surrendering to them. Otherwise, the risk is clear: in the hands of inexperienced employees, technological tools can compromise content quality, producing texts that appear acceptable only to non-specialists.
Investing in human resources who are capable of constantly updating themselves makes it possible to adapt to an ever-changing market. From this perspective, the synergy between human expertise and technology becomes the real strength: a translator who knows how to integrate digital tools with linguistic sensitivity can offer increasingly refined and customised solutions tailored to companies’ needs.
