Over the past 18 months, the Translation and Localization industry has undergone a significant transformation to meet the ever-increasing demand for affordable, high-volume, high-quality multilingual content from clients all over the world. These clients include everything from small businesses to global enterprises.
This change has been largely driven by the rapid advancement and integration of GenAI technology. However, this technological leap forward has not diminished the need for human expertise; rather, it has expanded it.
With that in mind, the need for post-editors who are experts-in-the-loop has become more crucial than ever. These experts are vital in ensuring that the content produced by AI is not only linguistically accurate but also culturally relevant and contextually appropriate.
As we continue to witness this shift, it has become clear that the future of Translation and Localization is not about choosing between human expertise and AI but rather about finding the optimal balance between the two.
The role of professional experts to review machine translation and AI output is becoming increasingly vital, as they act as a bridge between the efficiency of GenAI and the nuanced understanding of communication, language development, and culture.
Bilingual Employee vs. Professional Post Editor
The decision between utilizing a bilingual employee and hiring a professional post-editor has significant implications for your organization’s efficiency and financial health. While bilingual employees are invaluable for their language skills, assigning them editing tasks can lead to diminished efficiency in their primary roles and may increase long-term costs due to potential errors and lower quality of work. This approach, although seemingly cost-effective, can strain resources and impact overall productivity.
On the other hand, professional post-editors, with their specialized skills and focus, not only enhance the quality of multilingual content but also ensure a more efficient workflow. Investing in professional editing services can mitigate the risks of inaccuracies and revisions, ultimately leading to cost savings in the long run.
Here is a quick look at the key differences between bilingual people and professional post-editors.
Language Proficiency vs. Professional Training:
Bilingual Person: Being bilingual means the individual has proficiency in two languages (multilingual if they are proficient in more than two). This proficiency can range from conversational to highly fluent, but it does not necessarily include training in the nuances of writing, editing, translating, or creating professionally in those languages.
Professional Post-Editor: A professional post-editor, on the other hand, not only has a high level of proficiency in the languages they work in, but they also possess specific training and skills in editing. This includes knowledge of grammar, style, syntax, and conventions of professional writing.
Understanding of Cultural Nuances:
Bilingual Person: While a bilingual individual may have a good grasp of cultural nuances in both languages, this is not always the case. Cultural understanding can vary greatly depending on their life experiences and exposure to each culture. You can learn a different language and become highly proficient but have never experienced the culture of the language you learned.
Professional Post-Editor: Professional post-editors often have a deeper understanding of cultural nuances, especially in a professional or literary context. They are trained to recognize and adapt content to suit different cultural contexts, which is crucial in professional communication, translation, and localization. For example, a highly skilled bilingual may not be the best choice to translate English content into French for an audience in France if they have not lived in France, read French newspapers, or watched French television for the last 10 years.
Editing and Writing Skills:
Bilingual Person: A bilingual person may or may not have formal training in writing and editing. Their skills in crafting messages, correcting errors, and ensuring clarity might be limited to their experience and education.
Professional Post-Editor: Post-editors have specialized skills in editing and rewriting text. They are adept at improving the flow, clarity, and coherence of a text, making sure it meets professional standards.
Expert-in-the-loop Knowledge:
Bilingual Person: Their expertise might not extend to specialized domains such as legal, medical, or technical fields unless they have specific background or training in those areas.
Professional Post-Editor: Many professional post-editors specialize in specific industries and domains, possessing both linguistic skills and specialized knowledge, which is essential for accurately editing technical or domain-specific content.
Primary Duties and Efficiency:
Bilingual Employee: Often, bilingual individuals in a company are hired for roles unrelated to translation or editing. When they are tasked with editing or translating documents in addition to their primary duties, it can lead to a decrease in efficiency. Their main job responsibilities might suffer as they divert time and energy to editing tasks. This juggling act can result in slower turnaround times for both their primary tasks and the editing work.
Professional Post-Editor: In contrast, a professional post-editor is solely focused on editing and translation tasks. This dedicated attention means that they can process and refine content more quickly and efficiently. Their expertise and streamlined workflows ensure that editing tasks are completed faster and with higher accuracy, leading to overall better productivity. Additionally, bilingual employees will not have access to the powerful translation tools that professional linguists use to enhance consistency and overall quality, or the style guides that ensure your preferences and branding voice are maintained throughout your content.
Risks of Non-Professional Editing:
Quality and Accuracy: A bilingual person without professional editing experience might not catch subtle linguistic errors or inaccuracies, leading to lower-quality content. This can be not only a liability issue but also decrease your brand’s trust with your clients.
Miscommunication: There's a higher risk of miscommunication, especially in nuanced or specialized contexts, which can have serious repercussions depending on the content's nature.
Lack of Professional Standards: Professional editors adhere to certain standards and styles, which a bilingual individual might not be aware of, potentially leading to inconsistencies in the text.
LanguageLine Can Help
Imagine the impact of your global communication when it's supported by LanguageLine's technology and guided by the hands of seasoned experts-in-the-loop and post-editors.
Are you ready to experience the future of translation and localization? A future where quality, speed, cultural relevance, and affordability are not just promised but delivered?
Let LanguageLine Global Content Solutions be the bridge to your multilingual audience. Discover how our tailored solutions can transform your multilingual projects, ensuring that every word counts, and every message connects.
Contact your LanguageLine representative or connect with us at translation@languageline.com or call us at 1-800-878-8523.
