A lot of people eschew language translation software for the potentially critical errors they can create. Since a machine translator will likely never have the same breadth and depth of thought as a live human being, it’s a perfectly understandable cautionary measure – although it’s one that can cost you financially.
Language translation software, while more prone to failings than their human counterparts, is also infinitely cheaper. A single one-time investment in software gets you a translation system that can serve you for as long as you want. Contrast that with hiring a professional every time you need a sentence translated in English and you can imagine the wide gap in expenditures.
There are ways to use translation software that puts your organization in less of a risk by minimizing the errors in their results.
1. Avoid using software for critical business documents. If getting the translation 100% correct is a make or break proposition (meaning your business will suffer tremendously if you get it wrong), avoid using automated translators. In fact,avoid translators entirely and hire a professional interpreter, who will not only translate what is written but try to draw the emotions and motivations behind them as well.
2. Use software for simple translations. One word translations are zero risk with software, so are most short phrases and sentences.
3. Use software to write first drafts. If you have a full-time translator in your office, you can have them use the software to write the first draft of translations. It can save them a lot of time. With the draft done, they can then proofread and go over items that don’t sound right in the context of the rest of the document – chances are, those have been incorrectly translated.