When it comes to translation, human translators are the superior choice to machine translation, such as artificial intelligence (AI). It may seem tempting to let an all-knowing entity of pure data do the job for you, but there are a variety of factors that go into translation that artificial intelligence is, as of yet, not sophisticated enough to process.
Besides, why let a computer handle language, an integral part of humanity that a machine cannot comprehend, when human translators are always looking for work? According to a 2022 article by the UNESCO Courier about the state of the translation industry, there are 600,000+ translators and interpreters globally. It also claims that since the first machine translation in the 1950s, the industry has not declined, but instead strived. Statistically speaking, it seems human translation is more in demand. If you demand human translators, you should know that Katrium has hundreds of freelancers working on translations.
Why human translators?
What makes human translators superior to machines? It comes down to elements machine translation often fails to grasp: nuance, emotion, idioms, cultural context, and meaning.
- Nuance and emotion—subtle differences in tone, intent, or expression
These are crucial in language. Machine translations typically rely on direct, word-by-word conversion, ignoring these subtleties and often missing the intended message.
- Idioms
These present a similar challenge. By definition, idioms are expressions whose meanings can’t be deduced from individual words (e.g., “over the moon”). Machines tend to translate them literally, stripping them of their intended cultural or figurative meaning.
- Cultural context
This is another key factor. Language is deeply tied to culture, and a machine, no matter how well-trained, lacks lived experience. It can’t truly understand the societal or historical significance behind certain words or phrases, making it hard for AI to capture the full meaning behind cultural references.
- Finally, meaning—or semantics—is not always straightforward.
Words often carry multiple meanings or shift based on context. Machine translation tools lack true comprehension; they process data, not meaning. They aim to match words between languages rather than interpret them within context.
While machine translation is fast and cost-effective, it often produces inaccurate or unnatural-sounding results. In contrast, a fluent native speaker brings cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and contextual understanding to the table. Human translators can adapt language to fit tone, audience, and intention—skills that machines still struggle to replicate. Think about it, which would you rather trust? A machine designed by humans that was built upon human language without the ability to recognize the intricacies of said language or an actual human who speaks a given language fluidly?
Ultimately, language is more than just words. It’s culture, emotion, and context. And for now, only human translators can truly deliver that level of depth and understanding. With human translators come quality translations, which may seem like an investment and or expense, but is totally worth it, as outlined in a December 2024 Katrium blogpost about the cost-effectiveness of quality translations.
Machine translation as a tool
However, none of this means that machine translation couldn’t be used as a tool to ASSIST human translators. Machine translation is not a replacement for human translators, but machine translation tools can still be used in the translation process. Not every person is a master of their respective languages, so a tool to assist in filling certain gaps is welcome, as long as it does not become the translator itself.
Human translators can effectively use machine translation by incorporating it into their workflow as a tool for speed and efficiency, particularly in the initial draft or for repetitive tasks. They can then leverage their expertise to post-edit the machine-generated text, ensuring accuracy, cultural appropriateness, and stylistic consistency. This hybrid approach, combining the strengths of both human and machine translation, allows for faster turnaround times and cost-effectiveness while maintaining high-quality results. Also, we all make grammatical and spelling errors here and there. Machine translation tools are far less likely to make such mistakes, while also being useful in detecting them.
Just because a human is better at the job doesn’t mean a human is perfect at the job.
Conclusion
“Language is a key driver of communication,” as stated in a Katrium blogpost about multilingual content writing, “and multilingual content writing bridges cultural gaps. Whether you’re a business owner, blogger, or content creator, writing in multiple languages allows you to expand your audience and grow your reach.”
For quality translations, one should rely on human translators instead of machine translations. Machine translation may be faster, but it is also sloppier. For quality translations, consider Katrium.