As one who works within the translation industry, but is not a translator myself, the thought of machine translation (MT) being the future of translation industry growth seems… . well, contradictory. Weird, at the very least. Isn’t machine translation the enemy? Aren’t developing MT programs and software the thing that could put translators out of business?
I’ve recently discovered otherwise – so for you translators who are way ahead of me, please excuse me while I take a paragraph or two to catch up.
According to the innovative and very massive open source platform for translation memory exchange, aka TAUS (Translation Automation User Society) and sister company TAUS TDA (translation data association), global open source MT data sharing can make translators and LSPs 50% more productive. LSPs can also potentially offer 50% more services within specific industries and fields, simply by tapping into a vast network of shared translation data storage. Instead of fragmented translation markets and inconsistent translation terminology, you’ve got data sharing, memory exchanging, collaborating translation markets. Figuring out how to fund major upgrades in translation efficiency and productivity can be a problem for smaller translation company budgets. TAUS TDA offers an advanced solution, via MT memories and other translation software.
To actualize it a little - imagine having access to stored translation data and TM memories of Microsoft, Intel, SDL, Dell, Adobe, CLS Communications, ATA (Association of Translation Agencies), Xerox, Symantec, LionBridge, Applied Languages, a ton of university language programs - and about 60 more giant beast monster companies. I am thinking this is a pretty freakin’ awesome translation tool.
Here’s a few links to check them out, including TAUS home page and the TAUS TDA blog.
http://www.translationautomation.com/
http://www.tausdata.org/blog/
Of course, the giant beast monster companies are all “special members,” who sort of determine TDA sources on a much bigger scale. There are membership levels for individuals, small companies, academic institutions, etc etc. but there is no discrimination against how big a company, or how much revenue a member has to make in order to join. It does, however, determine various levels of access to the language data. Another upside? No free-loaders admitted. If you don’t put in, you don’t get jack. Share with them, they share with you. Simple, smart and very effective.
More than anything, though, the major point here is that technology advancements in machine translation, and the ever-progressing sophistication of their capabilities, is nothing to fear. Machine translation is taking technological hold that cannot be ignored or avoided. It’s a much better idea to make it work for you, than try to work against it. Using TAUS as an example illustrates that more and more translators seem to be banding together to make MT and translation technology work for them and the industry at large. This has been my lesson of the day, anyway.
For a more in-depth, and more informed blog about the future of MT, data sharing and open source platforms, have a look here:
http://www.translationautomation.com/perspectives/what-options-do-translators-really-have.html
