Machine Translation

Long time no see, being a MIIS student does not allow for much leisure time.

I had my first real contact with the facts of MT a month ago and I must admit I loved it. Not bad for a "pre-technological" being like me. I also just created language teaching lessons using social media and feel and feel so proud of myself! But that's something I'll comment in another post (I also loved it).

Here are my thoughts about the future of MT, an essay I had to turn in for my Advanced CAT tools course at MIIS, taught by the amazing Adam Wooten.

I am fully convinced that MT will play a good part in the future of translation. My guess is that it will end merging with CAT tools (something like a much more advanced match or a better MT suggestion plug/ feature).

Still, no matter how good the MT product is, there will always be a need for a human editor/ reviewer who has to be a translator as they need to be able to grasp the nuances of both the source and target texts.

This does not have to carry negative implications for translators (human translator doomsday brought by MT): things will be different, easier in some ways, more complex in others.

I think MT can end up providing both the more basic, as in limited, version it is already offering (needing controlled language, the more controlled the better), and a more advanced product (not that restricted and higher quality). It is just a question of time; it also depends on the development of other technologies. Until then, if anything, MT, even without human revision, is the answer for those offering “peanuts” to human translators. By “peanuts” I mean those rates that could be defined as both hilarious and really depressing at the same time, we have all received one of those offers that already costs money for the time invested in reading the email ($0.012/ word and alike). So yes, MT is already doing us a favor, or should be, at least.

The MT engine project made me realize how good MT can be if we abide by the controlled language rules and the many applications it can have. Then, it is not hard to imagine we can work in broadening the borders of that controlled language until it is less limited. However, reaching the goal of unrestricted text might take some more time and effort, but I do believe it is possible if combined with other technological developments.

That said, I do believe some specific areas such as advertising, dubbing, literature and poetry are not candidates for MT, and I do not think they will ever be. However, it may be used for subtitles, for example, so MT will be used along with human translation in different fields and in different ways.

Also, the possibility of integrating MT and interpretation opens up a whole new world for interpreters and could make our jobs a little bit less stressing without taking away any of the fun.

As I see it, MT and all of its applications and potential developments are just the logical evolution of translation. All other aspects of the sciences are changing and evolving, translation, which I perceive as a hybrid of science and arts/ humanities, should not be an exception.

Networking

Despite having been a freelance translator and interpreter for more than fifteen years, I have never been a fan of networking. In fact, I did not see the point: I did my work, be it at home or the clients' premises and it was enough for me, I was happy with my little pool of clients.

Regardless, I took a course on Marketing for Translators, little did I know the instructor would become my boss some years later (best boss ever, by the way). The course proved valuable however it focused on marketing.

At one of the ATA's conferences I attended a speed networking session and I cannot say I liked it… I guess by now you already know I am not the social type.

However, MIIS has changed my point of view on networking. And not only thanks to our amazing career adviser but also thanks to two of my classmates who happen to have powerful networking and public speaking skills.

Lucy Jobe http://sites.miis.edu/ljobe/ is my personal social media guru. Thanks to her I got reacquainted with Twitter. In one of her speeches, she provided easy and helpful tips to maximize our use of this network with almost little effort. She has also created the MIIS MegaSec Twitter account to promote awareness about our consecutive interpretation practice sessions. For more info about Lucy https://twitter.com/lucielle_j and https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyjobe. MIIS MegaSec https://twitter.com/MIIS_megasec.

When it comes to personal networking, Eréndira Sáez is my hero. She attends countless events and does not miss any opportunity to talk to new people and even recommend some friends for jobs! She does have a gift for socializing and networking, but she also believes in the usefulness of the later. She is right, a good part of all the good things MIIS can provide for us is the contacts. And not only for us, ultra stressed out MIIS students, but for anyone. For more information about Eréndira https://www.linkedin.com/in/erendirasaenz and https://twitter.com/ErendiraS.

Our world is increasingly becoming more and more cooperative, and translators and interpreters are not isolated anymore. As an almost pathologically shy person, I find it pretty awkward to start talking to just anyone, however, once the first twenty seconds are over, the conversation gets smoother. Current times require us to be good communicators and salespeople. At first, I thought that having a well rehearsed "elevator speech" was not for me and a waste of my time. I couldn't have been more wrong. Having a "basic shot speech" about yourself will come handy in many different situations, and as you never know where your next opportunity will come from, I would encourage everybody to have one.

TRI: To CAT or not to CAT

http://therollinginterpreter.blogspot.com

Welcome

Welcome to a new space that aims to provide some food for thought for translators and interpreters. Are you a geeky translator? Are you afraid of technology? Are you an interpreter who hates translation? Are you both a translator and interpreter? Do you have a Z language? Whatever your case, you’ll be welcome here. 

After 17 years as a freelancer, becoming a MIIS student has changed some of my opinions and positions about the profession and the business.

Let’s roll!