The translation process is often tedious, sometimes needing to cover multitudes of topics, extensive research, and have a contextual knowledge about the industry. As this may take several days, often weeks of revising and checking, often companies choose to use free translation tools to speed up the process in the hopes of saving a few dollars.
How do Free Automated Translation Tools Work?
All free translation tools on the internet are based on a field of machine learning. Machine learning is a computer software algorithm that has the ability to self learn and improve from experience without human help. It uses statistics to find patterns in huge amounts of data and are able to extrapolate the results to predict a result.
Most translation machines are built off from billions of documents being translated, and millions of translators adjust the translations as the machines adjust and learn. This had made translating phrases, sentences, and a large amount of text a lot easier, and has helped connect people all across the world.
Here are the most common free translation tools on the market today.
Google Translate
Snapshot of Google Translate, a Great Free Translation tool
Google Translate is a free translation service that is provided by Google that translates words, phrases, sentences, and large amounts of texts. The machine translator service was introduced in 2006, with only being to provide translation between English and Arabic.
In 2020, it supports over 103 languages and is accessed by more than 500 million users per day, where 92% of all these users come outside from the United States [1], with many of them being Tamil readers.
Google Translate uses a statistical machine translation model that learns from translated documents on the internet to predict the best match for the text that you want to have translated.
The software analyzes large amounts of data and based on past translations and human help. However, often this isn’t enough to capture the slang and the real intent behind the message.
Currently, it supports these features:
- Text translations: Translation through the inputted text(103 languages).
- Offline translations: Translation through the inputted texted with the need for the internet (59 languages).
- Instant camera translations: Camera translates in real-time through machine learning modeling (38 languages).
- Photos: Take a photo and upload it to Google’s Database for more accurate translation (50 languages).
- Conversations: Real-time, live two-way conversation (32 languages).
- Handwriting: Draw characters and text on the screen (93 languages).
- Phrasebook: Save translated phrases and sentences.
- Tap to Translate: Tap to copy the text in any app, and it will be translated (Android only).
Google Translate is often used for tourists traveling overseas and is in need of a quick translation.
The offline version has allowed travelers who don’t know the language to travel without a translator. Although most translations are not completely accurate, they can help you navigate around the country by communicating an overall idea.
Real-Time Camera Translations translates all menus, signs, and posters with a click of a button. All you have to do is hold your phone up and take the picture, then highlight the text with your fingers and get an instant translation of those words. This is perfect if you have a short sentence or phrase; however, it falls short when translating large blocks of texts.
Phrasebook allows you to save common phrases and words you often see.
While there are limitations, it’s the best guide for a person wishing to travel to a foreign country without knowing their native language.
Microsoft Translator
Snapshot of Bing Translate: Free Language Translation Tool
Microsoft Translator Tool is a multilingual machine translation service provided by Microsoft. Supporting over 73 language pairs and integrating with a variety of consumer, developer, and enterprise products, including Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, iPhone, and more, it has become one of the leading translation software for all users.
The versatile tool also includes exotic languages, including easy-Asian Hmong Daw, native Mexican Querétaro Otomí, and fictional languages such as Klingon.
With a clear, simple-to-use interface, users can translate an entire website as well as groups of sentences up to 5,000 characters.
With the addition of offering additional translation suggestions as synonyms, you can get a better overall understanding of the word and intended message.
The notable features that set the Bing Translator apart from Google Translate are it’s Try & Compare function. It allows you to review and complex phrases, sentences, large amounts of texts in up to 10 different languages, making it a more accurate translation. Currently, the supported languages include Arabic, English, Portuguese, Russian, French, Italian, Chinese Simplified, German, Japanese, and Spanish.
Microsoft has also allowed real-time translation for multilingual conversations through its Microsoft Translator Live for chats, where you can download individual language packs that can be used for offline use. Supporting over 60 languages (e.g. Malay), you can connect and communicate your ideas and thoughts through multiple devices, including Android, iOS, Powerpoint, Windows, and Web.
Linguee
Snapshot of Linguee: A search and language translation engine
Linguee is a search machine and translator combined. It is a practical option that searches the web for suitable translations and definitions. Most of these alternatives are unverified, but they allow you to understand the context and have a good way to find the correct translations.
With the search function for phrases where it considers the context for certain words, Linguee can be a good free translation tool when you are researching for technical terms and creative writing.
Why You Can’t Rely On Translation Tools
Can’t Replicate Human Translation
Translation tools are limited to the amount of data it has learned. When data is limited on one or both of the languages, the accuracy of the translation suffers, leaving you with a guess.
Often words are translated in their literal translations where they substitute one word or group words for the translated word, instead of gaining the exact context of the sentence.
This is seen through Google Translate’s disclaimer:
“Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.”
Unable To Do Transcreation
Transcreation is blending translation and creation, where it preserves the context, intent, emotion, and tone of the original sentences. The goal is to duplicate the original message thoughtfully and seamlessly without realizing there was a translation, giving the audience an identical emotional experience as the original source message.
Transcreation provides an effective way for businesses and brands to authentically reach new markets in a meaningful and cultural way that achieves a greater brand recognition and engagement.
This process comes from understanding the cultural aspect that needs to be curated to make your target audience buy your products and services.
Confidentiality
Free translation tools rely on available data to help perform its translation, meaning your confidential data can be found online if it’s been used to translate on these translators.
As they don’t sign NDA contracts, sensitive data including medical documents, client personal information, and financial reports, can be searched and taken.
This is seen in Google’s Term of Services:
“When you upload, submit, store, send or receive content to or through our Services, you give Google … a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content.”
No Proofreading
Free translation tools can only provide you with the translation. They don’t check for errors, and there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to spot inaccuracies.
Having a proofreading service for business purposes is crucial to make sure the intended message is correctly translated to the target audience.
Why Choose TranslateRight For Technical Document Translation Services
Translated Right is a certified professional technical translation agency that provides technical translations online in 50+ languages. Our translation services languages include English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil, Japanese, French, and more. Providing fast, accurate, and reliable, professional translation services for all types of documents, formats, and lengths.
With over 5000+ professional and experienced translators, we’ve filtered out the best translator using our stringent and detailed interviewing process, ensuring that you can hire only the best-qualified person for your specific translation document.
This has allowed us to simplify the whole entire technical translation process, resulting in a smooth application process.
This is seen by our 1000+ of satisfied customers from our competitive prices, friendly and efficient translation services.
If you’re looking for a translation service near me that can translate from a source language to the desired target language that conforms to the requirements of the technical side of your industry, Translated Right can help you today.
Providing a streamlined and hassle-free process, get your document translated by a professional service today.
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