Translation machines or translation agency? We give you 5 reasons

1. Translation machines cannot read between the lines

Human language is complex and can only be laid down in rules to a limited extent. The more complex a text, the more difficult it is for a translation machine to translate the grammatical content correctly. Furthermore, a machine can’t fully understand the context of a text.

Translation computers are getting smarter and smarter, but do you really want to run the risk of having an e-mail for a large bank come back from a translation machine as a translation over a 'couch'?

A translation machine can’t read or write between the lines, nor can it pick up on irony or humour. We humans use these nuances to achieve or emphasize something, and to get the right message across, something a translation machine just isn't capable of doing.

2. Translation machines have no knowledge of cultures

How many different cultures are there in the world? The Netherlands alone has more than 200 nationalities. Each country has its own culture, and often even several cultures within the same country. It is impossible to program a translation computer in such a way that it can fathom cultural differences. Machines are unable to understand street language, idioms and sometimes even names. People, on the other hand, can easily find suitable counterparts for language, street language, idioms and cultural differences in the target language.

Not only can one word have multiple meanings in a single language, but in some cases there are also words that mean something completely different in one culture than in another. Only human translators have the knowledge to correctly convey these differences on paper. A translation machine will continue to translate literally word for word in these kinds of situations.

3. Translation machines cannot add tone and style to a translation

Texts by different writers all have different styles and tones. A document may be written in a funny way or have a compelling undertone. A translation machine does not detect this difference in style and therefore cannot add nuance to the text.

Especially in marketing texts, the right tone is very important. A machine will turn out flat translations that completely miss the mark, and we all know that an unattractive text will not yield any customers.

People are the only way to get a message across and match a corporate culture with the purpose of the text. This is particularly important in business communication.

4. A translation cannot do without the human touch

Machine translations are sterile. They lack the human touch, and creativity is not reflected in translations that roll out of a machine. Languages are complex and only human beings can understand them down to the last detail. A machine does not know for whom a text is being written, so you won't necessarily find the right words and sentences in a translation aimed at a particular target group. That is exactly why translations need the human input of a real translator.

5. Machine translations are more expensive in the long term

Machine translations are free, right? Yeah, they are. Most translation machines let you use their services for free.

But just imagine: an unintentionally offensive email loses you one or more customers, potentially costing you thousands or even millions of euros.

Fine, you still want to use that translation machine. But in the time it takes you or your colleague to correct, adapt and reformulate the translation, a professional translator could have done the job three times over. You and your colleagues could have spent that valuable time on other projects.

Choose quality, choose a translation agency

Of course, machine translations are getting better and better and translation machines can do more and more. Nevertheless, a machine translation remains a literal translation without taking the above points into account.

Don't want to deliver a bad or incorrect translation to your business partner or client? Then have your documents translated by our professional and above all human translators, who have a knowledge of language and culture, and who can add the right style and tone to the translation so that your message gets across as you mean it.