Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT in Translation

in

In terms of the translation and interpretation industry, are AI and ChatGPT capable of replacing professional human interpreters and translators entirely? No – this still has a long way to go.

There’s no denying that artificial intelligence is changing our daily narrative. AI is making life easier and more efficient, from self-driving cars to virtual assistants. Or is it?

Let’s explore the impact of ChatGPT on the translation industry and its potential to shape the future of language translation.

The translation industry has seen significant technological advancements in recent years, particularly in integrating AI and machine learning. One of the latest breakthroughs in this field is the development of ChatGPT, an advanced language model developed by OpenAI.

ChatGPT is expected to generate quite accurate translations, and there is no doubt about the benefits it can bring in terms of speeding up the process. Yet there are still a number of drawbacks. Having a machine translate complex legal or medical texts without human intervention is a huge risk in anyone’s book, and one that companies would be foolish to take. The legal ramifications of inaccurate translation could be massive. Data and privacy concerns are big news these days, and with many AI engines being public and open-source it creates unnecessary added security problems for confidential data. And of course, AI is still incapable of following client rules and terminology, which can be crucial in delivering the job the client requested.

The importance of accurate and efficient language translation cannot be overstated. Communicating effectively across cultures and languages is crucial for medicine, business,  education, and other fields. At this point, we can’t guarantee this without the reliable input of a professional translator.

SEO translation for your business

in

Companies looking to expand globally should seriously consider internationalising their websites. But it is important to remember that this extends beyond just regular language translation. Keywords for search engine optimisation (SEO) are perfect examples of content that cannot simply be translated word for word into a foreign language. Instead of a literal translation, this type of text has to be specially adapted to suit the specific features of the relevant target countries.

The different language versions of a website must be specifically adapted to their target audience in terms of language and structure. It’s important to understand that the same applies to the underlying search engine marketing. After all, this is the only way for companies to secure a high ranking in search results.

Also, many search engines differ in terms of the criteria they use to rank their search results. It is also worth noting that even users’ search behavior varies from country to country.

Tips for successful SEO in markets with different languages

Once a company has decided to expand into a new target market with a foreign language, it should consider the following pointers for its search engine marketing:

  • Research which search engines are preferred in the target countries. Some countries use other search engines – such as Bing, Yahoo, or Yandex – rather than Google.
  • Ideally, your website should have country-specific domains. These may refer to your company name, or even your products and their names.
  • Have the content of your website translated by qualified native speakers and ensure that it is localised to suit the specific features of both the target country and your company.
  • When translating keywords, please consider cultural and historical factors associated with the target country instead of translating each word.
Keywords
When translating websites and adapting search engine optimisation requirements to suit different countries, we always turn to qualified native speakers with high SEO understanding and know-how. In addition to localising the content, we also pay close attention to the keywords in SEO texts, as user search habits vary significantly from one country and culture to the next. This is the only way to ensure that content will be found online.

Book translations – Finding the right translation service provider

in , ,

Working with the right translation service provider is crucial to avoid the risk of devaluing your book. Do your research and find the most appropriate office that fits your needs.

To get the best results, here is a checklist that you should consider before making the big decision.

  • Ask for references
  • Clearly communicate your needs
  • Determine the deadline
  • Learn whether you’ll have full rights to the translation
  • Understand their book translation rates to make sure there are no extra costs or surprises in the end
  • Find out what the feedback process looks like and determine how often you can communicate with your provider

Working with EDMF on your book is a guarantee that you’ll receive the highest quality service.

Video Translation – Keeping Up With Multilingual Content in 2022

in , ,

It’s no secret that videos have become the most popular choice for content consumption today. Barely a day will go by without you watching a video, whether it’s on your smartphone when commuting to work, or on your laptop at home.

YouTube has over two billion users with more than one billion videos watched per day, so it’s no surprise we are bombarded with content. 86% of online marketers rely on videos to promote their content, while according to Hubspot, 61% of businesses used video as a marketing tool in 2016, but that number has now increased to 86% in 2022.

Multilingual content

With all this content being created, it’s no wonder that the demand for video translation is also rising. There’s no point in having great video marketing content about your company if the people in your target market can’t understand what you’re saying!

Video translation is quite a complex process that differs from simple text translation, and normally requires a team of experts. First and foremost, you need professional translators, one for each language you want to translate your video into. As with all professional translation projects, you’ll want people translating into their mother tongues.

For most online uses, subtitles or closed captions at the bottom of the video is the preferred option. According to Facebook, 85% of the videos viewed on its site are watched without sound, so captions are crucial for being able to follow what is said (subtitles assume the audience can hear the audio, while closed captioning assumes the audience cannot hear the audio).

How does it work?

There are various steps to the video translation process:

  • Transcription: first you have to transcribe the dialogue as well as any other relevant on-screen text in your video.
  • Timestamping: when your transcribed file is ready, you need to timestamp the text to make sure it appears at the right time in your video.
  • Translation: the transcribed text is then translated into your target language, and adjusted to make sure the target text also appears at the right time in your video.
  • Subtitle/caption files: once you have the text in the target language, it needs to be put into subtitle files so that the text can be displayed on the screen as the video plays.
  • Video editing: the last step is to integrate the translated files into your video file.

This is quite a simple overview of the video translation process, but it shows that there is quite a significant difference between this and a simple text translation. And we haven’t even delved into voice-overs either!

In an earlier blog post, we talked about transcreation, and with promotional texts or adverts in video format, you may find that this is what you need to get the message across, adding another facet to the translation process.

Whatever your requirements, if you want to broaden the reach of your video content, get in touch with us at EDMF to see how we can help you conquer those foreign markets.

All about legal translation – interview with András Moldován, former Senior Partner at Moldován & Co Attorneys at Law

in

A legal translation can take on many forms. They can include documents such as contracts, patent and trademark filings, court and witness transcripts, depositions, registration documents, expert reports, legal disclaimers, affidavits, regulations, laws, confidentiality agreements, legal certifications and statements, government and legal ruling reports, letters of credit, technical documents to support litigation efforts, licenses, litigation and arbitration documents.

András Moldován was for 25 years the Senior Partner at Moldován & Co Attorneys at Law. He actively dealt with all aspects of business law, with particular expertise in the field of pharmaceuticals and healthcare. His area of expertise included corporate law, real estate law, public procurement tenders, environmental protection, commercial litigation and arbitration, as well as a wide array of commercial law matters.

We asked András Moldován about the importance of translation.

EDMF: As the senior lawyer at Moldován & Co Attorneys at Law, you worked in international fields for more than twenty years. We presume you speak more than one language. What languages do you speak and how long have you used them for?

András: I learned English in school and German and Russian on a private basis. I used only English in my legal carrier, so the other two faded away. Although I can still chit chat in German and Russian, I do not use any of those in my work.

EDMF: How important do you view translation and interpreting in your field of work, and why?

András: It is a must. It is a way of communicating people of different countries.

EDMF: Why is legal translation different from other types of translation, and why is it so intricate?

András: A legal translation has to provide the meanings of the basic language text precisely, and is usually full of formulations not used in other texts. A small misinterpretation of the intended motions may cause irreparable damages.

EDMF: Can you share with us any good or bad experiences you’ve had in connection with translation or interpreting at your firm, and what impact this had?

András: In the nineties, one translation omitted the word “not” in part of the text. We were in court for years over the issue.

EDMF: If you had to advise a lawyer colleague about finding the right translation firm, what tips would you give?

András: Contact at least three firms with the same text on a test basis, and then choose EDMF. No room for mistakes.

How does online/remote interpreting work, and when should you use it?

in , ,

Remote interpreting allows translators and interpreters to work from anywhere in the world. It permits communication between different groups of people who do not speak the same language, and can be used for any type of event: a company video conference, an important meeting, a discussion with a multilingual audience, a webinar, an interview, etc. Since the pandemic, requests for this type of service have increased, and many companies now continue to use remote interpreting out of habit.

It is important to know that remote interpreting was practised long before the arrival of COVID-19 and its related health restrictions. Remote interpreting professionals and companies were already benefiting from it.

  • Interpreters are not required to travel, and only minimal technical equipment is required. They can interpret either from home or from their office where equipment is set up specifically for their work.
  • This type of interpreting costs less because transportation, accommodation and equipment rental services are not needed.
  • You can find specialists available immediately in the case of an urgent need. This process is better for emergencies because it avoids travel time for the language professionals as well as the complex logistics organisation of on-site events.

EDMF provides remote interpreting services.

Both our clients and attendees have always been satisfied with the experience.

Remote interpreting is sometimes preferred by both clients and language professionals alike, as they consider it to be more appropriate given the reduced cost compared to face-to-face interpreting, not to mention the convenience and flexibility.

Let us know if you think we can help you remotely with your next event!

Machine Translation – A blessing or a curse for the translation industry?

in ,

Technology is everywhere. It’s difficult to find a part of our everyday lives that isn’t affected by it, and just when we get used to a particular app or process, something else comes along and turns things upside down again.

Technological progress is generally very positive, we like it when our lives become easier, or we can complete jobs more quickly, as a result.

The translation business is no different. We are coming across MT (machine translation) increasingly in our day-to-day work, quite inevitable with the advances in technology. Can it help the translation business? Yes it can. Is it a panacea, can we stop hiring translators? No chance.

What we are seeing at EDMF with MT is that it throws up a whole new series of problems that human translators need to tackle. Professional translators, by and large, are consistent creatures. When you conduct your research and decide on the translation of a technical term, you stick with it throughout the text, whether it is a 2-page analysis or a 100-page report.

MT pays no attention to consistency with vocabulary from one sentence to the next. A document can be a “report” in one sentence, a “review” in the next, and an “account” on the following page. All perfectly acceptable translations depending on the context, but very confusing to the reader of the translated text.

Also, MT doesn’t follow client terminology. Clients can have specific terms within their company, and sometimes within particular corporate divisions, that have to be applied. MT ignores these requests completely.

Interestingly though, the greatest problem and therefore risk with MT is when it almost does the job right, just not well enough, when it almost captures the original meaning of a sentence perfectly. At first glance, the translated sentence looks fine, but drilling down to the detail and the nuances you realise the operative word here is “almost”.

To an untrained eye, the text looks accurate and ready, but these are the errors that a professional linguist is trained to pick up on. Even more problematic is that some companies are deciding to rely solely on MT and forgo the use of human translation, “because it seems good enough and it’s cheaper”, so there is a real risk of such errors creating significant misunderstandings. Not to mention the problems that can arise if MT is used for business contracts or complex legal translations for example (yes, believe it or not, some firms are already doing this…), and the MT misses the crux of the sentence, thereby misleading the reader or user of the text, with unforeseeable consequences.

We cannot stick our heads in the sand, technology is here to stay, and we need to integrate it into our processes. However, nothing at the minute can substitute for human intelligence and the skills of a trained and qualified translator. Don’t hesitate to contact us at EDMF if you’d prefer not to run the risk with your company’s reputation!

Written by Douglas Arnott

 

Accent vs. Dialect, Sociolect, Idiolect, Slang

in

So what’s the actual difference between accents and dialects? And how do people develop such different pronunciations or words or grammar rules for one language? It might sound like a simple question, but it’s not.

Let’s start with the definitions. Both terms “dialect” and “accent” refer to a distinctive way of using a specific language and are often associated with a particular country, region, or social class.

A dialect is a language variant with noticeable grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation differences. An essential characteristic of a dialect is that it should be intelligible to other speakers of the same language. That means that the speakers can understand others and express themselves in most situations.

An accent is a specific manner of pronunciation. So, an accent is a subordinate part of a dialect, while a dialect is a subordinate part of a language.

Everyone (yes, even you) has an accent and dialect, and it’s also possible to have more than one. Accents and dialects can represent the region you’re from, your ethnicity or race, age, religious group, and many other aspects of your upbringing. It’s also common for people to switch their accents or dialects, either unintentionally or deliberately, as they move through the world, depending on whom they’re talking to and where they are. It affects every person, in every language, whether it’s the one you grew up using or a new one you’re studying.

Have you ever heard of the term sociolect? And what is an idiolect?

Sociolect is a dialect dictated by your class/position in society. Examples include school jargon used between school children, criminal jargon, office jargon, etc. Idiolect is an individual’s use of language.

You might also think about how slang and dialect are different?

The term slang refers to words and phrases, whereas dialect is a way of speaking. Slang is not always region-specific like dialect. It presents itself in communities.

Language and social interaction go hand in hand. Social interaction is a crucial part of understanding the different terms mentioned above.

The impact of translation on the world

in

The history of translation and the impact of linguists has allowed us to learn about cultures and civilisations that existed many centuries ago. Although the history of translation spans centuries, it has also been a powerful tool in helping to bridge the gap between cultural barriers, which remains true to this day.

How it started
Translation has a patron saint, Jerome, and he was named as the guardian for the profession after he translated the Bible in the 5th century. He wanted to create a version for those who only spoke Latin. He called it the Vulgata. Saint Jerome was the first translator who distinguished between secular (profane) and religious translation. The Bible is the first and the most translated book in the world. The translation is celebrated on 30 September, marking St. Jerome’s death. It’s known as International Translation Day.

The future of translation
Translation enables effective communication between people around the world. It is a courier for the transmission of knowledge, a protector of cultural heritage, and essential to the development of a global economy.

Nowadays, you can find everything you need on the internet, and translation is no exception. The written word allows society to express multitudes of opinions, ideas and insights. Being able to understand these expressions remains a fundamental right.

As we look to the future, we can expect to see translation entering more and more into the technological age. Though there is an underlying fear that human translators may one day be replaced by machines, that day is still far in the future.

All in all, the global market for translation services will continue to grow as the world continues to globalise. The translation industry will remain essential in helping society stay connected.

Hungarian books in English

in ,

Our current quarantine and partial lock-down certainly has its challenges, but it also provides an opportunity to do something different. Hungary has a rich history of writers and authors, many of whom have been translated into English, and the English-language books can be ordered online.

The Paul Street Boys (Pál utcai fiúk) by Ferenc Molnár

There are some gems of Hungarian literature out there, dating from roughly the 1900s to the present day. For example The Paul Street Boys (Pál utcai fiúk) by Ferenc Molnár. Set in March 1889 in Budapest, it tells the story of the rivalry between the Paul Street boys and the ‘boys with crimson shirts’. It is a tale of friendship, heroic sacrifice, betrayal, the different versions of strength and power and the value of each person, no matter how big or small.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by EDMF Language Services (@edmf_language_services) on

Eclipse of the Crescent Moon (Egri Csillagok) by Géza Gárdonyi

Moving further back in time we have Eclipse of the Crescent Moon (Egri Csillagok) by Géza Gárdonyi, another classic that every Hungarian knows well. The narrative revolves around the Turkish siege of the castle of Eger in 1552, as well as the siege of Buda, the Hungarian capital. The plot takes place during the time of the Turkish occupation in the 16th century, and follows the two main characters, Gergely Bornemissza and Éva Cecey, from their childhood to the victory of the defenders of Eger Castle.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by EDMF Language Services (@edmf_language_services) on

Sándor Márai entitled Embers (A Gyertyák Csonkig Égnek)

Sándor Márai wrote many poems, essays and plays, but was also a successful novel-writer His novel Embers (A Gyertyák Csonkig Égnek) was published in 1942, and it features two old friends who meet again after decades have passed and talk all night to catch up. As we get into the story, one of them morphs into an accuser while the other is the accused. It is a story of friendship, betrayal, fidelity, and the emotional suspense keeps you interested all the way through

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by EDMF Language Services (@edmf_language_services) on

Fatelessness (Sorstalanság) by Imre Kertész, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2002.

The fourth book in our series brings us closer to the present day and is of course Fatelessness (Sorstalanság) by Imre Kertész, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2002.

Fatelessness follows the life of a teenage Jewish boy in Hungary in the 1940s. A coming-of-age story in the horrible circumstances of a concentration camp and how he reacts to it all. It is not an easy topic, but Kertész’s style and his brilliance in dealing with difficult issues delicately make it a must-read. It has also been turned into a movie, with Ennio Morricone composing the music and Daniel Craig making an appearance as well.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by EDMF Language Services (@edmf_language_services) on

Magda Szabó: The Door

The Door is based on actual events; the author portrays a crucial episode of her life in a breathtakingly beautiful way. The protagonist is Emerenc Szeredás; it is through her that themes of loneliness, sins, forgiveness and hidden scars are told. It is a beautiful, personal confession of the author that deeply touched readers both in Hungary and abroad. Written in 1987, the first edition sold out in just a week. It has been translated into English, German and a further 32 languages. It was also turned into a movie, featuring Helen Mirren in the role of the protagonist.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by EDMF Language Services (@edmf_language_services) on


We hope you enjoy reading these four pieces of Hungarian literature in English, and let us know what you thought of them!