Explore the comprehensive guide to machine translation (MT). Learn about different MT types, benefits, top engines like Google Translate and DeepL, and how to integrate MT into your translation workflows for faster, cost-effective, and multilingual results.
Simply put, AI translation is a process where a computer program automatically translates text from one source language to a different target language. Machine language translation has a long and interesting history dating back to the 1950s.
Over time, the technology has developed into a viable solution for fast and accurate translations. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing (NLP), and computing capabilities brought AI translation into the mainstream.
AI translation is an indispensable tool in the translation process. It can be used alone or in combination with human post-editing. MT offers three primary benefits for your translation workflows:
AI translation models can translate millions of words for high-volume translation projects. But speed isn't the only benefit! MT uses AI to get smarter as more content is translated. Plus, MT can work with a TMS to manage and tag high-volume content. This helps you stay organized when you need to quickly translate content into multiple languages.
Most major machine language translation providers can translate 50-100 languages. These programs are powerful enough to translate multiple languages at once so you can roll out global products and documentation updates. MT is well-suited to language pairs such as English to French or English to Spanish.
Even when human translators are needed for post-editing, MT cuts translation delivery times and costs. MT takes care of the initial heavy lifting by producing basic but useful translations, which a human translator can refine and edit. This way, the finished versions will adhere more closely to the text's original intent, and the content can be effectively localized.
There are four different types of AI translations – Statistical Machine Translation (SMT), Rule-based Machine Translation (RBMT), Hybrid Machine Translation (HMT), and Neural Machine Translation (NMT). Here's an overview of each type:
RBMT— the earliest form of MT— translates content based on grammatical rules. There have been significant advances in machine translation technology since RBMT was developed, so it has a few disadvantages. These drawbacks include the need for large amounts of human post-editing and adding languages manually. Despite this low translation quality, RBMT is useful in basic situations where a quick understanding of meaning is all that is required.
SMT works by building a statistical model of the relationships between text words, phrases, and sentences. It then applies this translation model to a second language and converts the same elements to the new language. SMT improves somewhat on RBMT but still shares many of the same problems.
HMT is a blend of RBMT and SMT. HMT leverages a translation memory, making it far more effective in terms of quality. However, even HMT has its share of drawbacks, the greatest of which is the need for human editing.
NMT employs artificial intelligence to learn languages and improve that knowledge constantly. In this way, it strives to mimic the neural networks in the human brain. NMT is more accurate than other types of AI translation. With NMT, it's easier to add languages and translate content. Because NMT provides better translations, it is rapidly becoming the standard in MT tool development.
NMT works by incorporating training data. Depending on the user's needs, the data can be generic or custom.
Here are some factors you should consider when choosing an MT tool for your project:
Prominent tech players like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft use NMT to power their AI translation models. When we compare different engines, it is essential to understand that they are constantly learning and improving. Read on to learn about top AI translation engines.
Google Translate
Amazon Translate
Microsoft Translator
Watson Language Translator
DeepL Translate
ChatGPT Plus
Integrating MT into your translation and localization strategy is a must. Localize speeds up your workflow with a built-in AI translation service. Our platform then provides easy access for your professional translators to post-edit your AI translations. The result is a high-quality translation.
Unlike many translation services, Localize does not charge extra for AI translations. We offer free integrations with Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Watson, and DeepL.
Contact our experts at Localize today to explore how our solutions can help you.
At Localize, our passionate writers — including Marketing Manager Rod Austin — explore a wide range of localization topics, from technology trends to cultural insights. With diverse backgrounds in SaaS, marketing, and global growth, they bring unique perspectives to their articles, aiming to inform and inspire readers worldwide.
Transform your event management journey from concept to analysis with Releventful. Elevate each step with our comprehensive tools designed for unforgettable event experiences.
Explore our features now!
