[Pousinha]

This is a question running among the web. My best friend, even not being a translator, is convinced (and overly worried) human translators would disappear due to online translating programs. In my opinion, this is only partially possible. It's true there are many online translating programs, but most of the freeware (the typical example is google translator) are very far from correct and accurate translations. Google translator cannot translate in context and fails syntax rules out of single words or very simple sentences. But even professional programs that don't fail the correct syntax, can't do all human translator jobs: as a machine cannot know the cultural aspect of each country. And cultural aspects strongly determine an accurate and in context translation. I suppose a machine must be heavily programmed to do that (and to correct program a machine, human translators knowing all the nuances of a language are needed), but even so, it's hard a machine to translate literature contexts, as this field gets into creativity. And a machine can't be creative...
Then comes the neologism question: a machine must be re-programmed in such cases.
Basically, I think online translators can substitute human translators only when it comes for simple text routine based. For technical texts, hard programming is needed, but it's not always enough. For literature, arts and crafts, quite impossible.

[Angie10]

As someone with a translation background, I honestly doubt it would work. I agree with you, maybe it could be the answer when it comes to simple text. But if you take my native language for instance, it's such a complex language, not even the natives understand it fully. Well, most of them lean very heavily on English. And Google translate is rubbish at translating my language - I'm always creasing up reading all the translation work. So i don't know how they would programme the service to do as good a job as a human translator.

[mrki444]

Even I respect people who know many languages, I want see universal translator from Star Trek. It works great and it help understand everybody. I could travel cross world without think about language barrier.

[nela13]

Basically, I think online translators can substitute human translators only when it comes for simple text routine based.

I agree, it only works for simple texts and if we are trying to translate a language like Portuguese, we know the translation is never exactly the same as it could have double meanings.

[uobill]

There are some ideas that cannot be translated between various languages. "Direct translation" isn't a real thing.

[kataomoi]

I don't think so. Online translators are good for simple phrases or words, but if you wanted to translate conversations or long texts, there are tons of errors. And even if the translation itself is accurate, we know that language is ever changing and one word/phrase can have multiple meanings. It'll be hard for the translation program to factor this in.

[GuestHu]

We're in the 'future' and AI is getting popular, specifically machine learning. It will take time for the AI using machine learning to learn a certain language and able to translate. Probably, within our lifetime we can just tap our phone and our phone will just auto translate what the foreigner said.

[Netherrealmer]

Google translate is still terrible so it is still a long road ahead. translators cant translate idioms,figure of speeches and slangs. They still translate word for word.

[Pousinha]

As someone with a translation background, I honestly doubt it would work. I agree with you, maybe it could be the answer when it comes to simple text. But if you take my native language for instance, it's such a complex language, not even the natives understand it fully. Well, most of them lean very heavily on English. And Google translate is rubbish at translating my language - I'm always creasing up reading all the translation work. So i don't know how they would programme the service to do as good a job as a human translator.

Google translator lacks all syntax, to begin. And unfortunately, English translations by Google are the worse I have seen until today, between Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and English. I'm supposing one of the biggest matters is Google doesn't pay human translators that cooperate with the company to improve the tool. I remember in 2019 I came across a Google proposal to cooperate with translator, but...surprise: after I began to work, I discovered I won't be paid. So I quitted very soon.