[jusjac]

Recently I've talked with some group of IT programmers. When I told them about my future profession they claimed that soon there will be no place for the majority of translators. Their arguments were supported by the release of new Google and Apple extensions - some newest translation programs.

What is your opinion about that? Is it possible that translators are to be replaced by some super immediate translation devices?

I'm really looking forward to your responses.

[Glotto]

I think that person who express this opinion isn't aware of the complexity involved in translation. In my opinion no machine in the foreseeable future will be able to make translation as good as a man. No machine can replace a great deal of intuition, the experience and the ability to combine skills from different fields. Good translator can combine this skills.

[jusjac]

Originally Posted by Glotto

I think that person who express this opinion isn't aware of the complexity involved in translation.

In deed. It was my feeling to. Language expressions differ in such a way that even the best program released by some really good and prosperous company wouldn't provide that translation performed by a skilled translator.

[Kamil Limak]

Maybe interpreting can be threatened by some apps. And some specialist translations like legal translations... But I doubt it. Something that will never be translated by a machine is a piece of narrative, be it a novel or a short story.
Never say never, they say. Well, not in the next century, I belive.

[Glotto]

Originally Posted by Kamil Limak

Maybe interpreting can be threatened by some apps. And some specialist translations like legal translations... But I doubt it. Something that will never be translated by a machine is a piece of narrative, be it a novel or a short story.
Never say never, they say. Well, not in the next century, I belive.

I think that in some degree such apps are likely to find some loyal users, but it won't be a major threat to the translator profession for the reasons I wrote before

[arcmonika2]

What do you think about communication in business? I mean, would it be a combination of translation and office work? I hope so because I've just started studies with that specialisation

[Deithe]

I was studying a bit about the ontologies (as in machine - human dictionaries) and even a bit was mind-boggling. People were and are still trying to teach machines language (including translation) for a long time and even if they are a few steps closer it's still far off. If one's using machine translation, one can perhaps convey the meaning to the recivier of the message, but not without eliciting a smirk or a laugh. At least in my oppinion.

[priczmond]

Well, CAT tools already have the possibility of using machine translating tools, which can definitely ease the translating process. However, they can't subtitute the translator and his creative approach to problem solving. We'll need to wait a few more decades before we have a self-reliant translating tool.

[Glotto]

Originally Posted by priczmond

Well, CAT tools already have the possibility of using machine translating tools, which can definitely ease the translating process. However, they can't subtitute the translator and his creative approach to problem solving. We'll need to wait a few more decades before we have a self-reliant translating tool.

It is said that a scientist (or rather group of scientists) who will create a real self-reliant translating tool will be a Nobel Prize winner for sure.

[Deithe]

I guess if we reach a level where our programs will be aware of context and creative in translation, we might as well pass the golden point in machine evolution. Meaning, a poing in which machines are able to create better machines, which in turn create even better machines and so on. After a few generations, not only translators but humans in general would become redundant, possibly