Is Automatic Translation a Myth?
Despite decades of research and significant investments, truly accurate automatic translation remains a myth. The idea that a machine can fully comprehend and translate human language with perfect accuracy still belongs to science fiction.
Consider the following historical failures in machine translation:
- In the 1980s, Japan’s Fifth Generation Computing Project invested hundreds of millions of dollars in MT but ultimately failed.
- IBM’s Science Center in Haifa canceled a similar project after almost 20 years of research.
- A promising startup named SoftJet attempted to create a viable solution but failed as well.
The root of the problem? Understanding a sentence requires human intelligence. While word-for-word translation tools like Babylon.com exist, they cannot grasp context, idioms, or cultural nuances, which are crucial for accurate translations.
The Hilarious Failures of Machine Translation
Machine translation errors often lead to absurd and inaccurate results. Many web users find amusement in running texts through translation engines and comparing the output with the original.
For example, when the CIA first introduced its English-Russian-English translation computer, someone tested it with the phrase:
➡ “Out of sight, out of mind.”
The machine translated it into Russian and then back into English as:
➡ “Invisible idiot.”
Similarly, the biblical phrase:
➡ “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Was humorously translated into Russian as:
➡ “The vodka is good, but the meat is rotten.”
Even humans can make translation mistakes. In 1947, when the United Nations passed the resolution to establish Israel, an Israeli newspaper mistranslated “Lake Success” (the location of the UN headquarters) into Hebrew. When asked to translate it back into English, the result was: “Lucky Pool.”
Why Machine Translation Fails for Business Websites
Would a business owner trust machine translation for crucial website content? Consider the risks:
- E-commerce Websites: Automatically translated product descriptions, disclaimers, and legal agreements can become incomprehensible, leading to customer confusion and potential lawsuits.
- Professional Services: A poorly translated contract or warranty agreement could result in legal disputes.
- Brand Image: A company that uses flawed translations may lose credibility and trust with international customers.
Ironically, instead of paying for machine translation, businesses may prefer to pay for a tool that prevents automatic translation of their websites!
Market Potential & Business Model
Who Uses Machine Translation?
The main users of machine translation are casual web surfers who need a quick translation of articles or foreign text. However, this market is weak for several reasons:
- No sales or paying customers—users expect free translations.
- The market is overcrowded with many competitors.
- Companies offering free translation services often rely on advertising revenue, which is unreliable.
On the other hand, human translation solutions are in high demand by businesses that need accuracy, reliability, and industry-specific expertise.
Why Businesses Invest in Human Translation Solutions
Unlike machine translation, human translation provides high-quality and culturally accurate results. Businesses and enterprises are willing to pay premium prices for translation management solutions that ensure:
- Accurate and professional translations
- Consistent brand messaging across languages
- Industry-specific terminology handling
While the cost of hiring human translators is high, businesses view it as a worthwhile investment, making translation management software more attractive and cost-effective.
Development Costs: Human vs. Machine Translation
The High Cost of Machine Translation Development
Unlike human-based translation systems that manage the translation process, machine translation requires artificial intelligence and deep linguistic understanding. Developing an MT system is extremely expensive, requiring:
- Advanced AI technology
- Complex linguistic algorithms
- Continuous learning and adaptation
Even a mediocre machine translation engine can cost millions to develop.
Additionally, machine translation systems must be developed separately for each language pair. For example, if a company wants to support 10 languages, it must create 90 different language combinations, significantly increasing costs.
Human Translation is Cost-Effective & Scalable
In contrast, human translation management systems are cheaper to develop because they rely on skilled linguists rather than complex AI systems. Additionally, proxy-based solutions allow businesses to efficiently manage translations without the need for expensive AI development.
Summary: The Future of Translation
At first glance, human and machine translation may seem similar, but in reality, they are opposites:
- Machine Translation is still a myth – it cannot fully replace human intelligence.
- The cost of developing a functional MT system is massive, and the market for paid services is weak.
- Businesses and enterprises require human translation solutions to maintain accuracy, consistency, and quality.
While casual users may rely on free translation engines, businesses cannot afford the risks associated with machine-generated translations. Instead, human translation solutions, supported by advanced management tools, remain the best choice for enterprises worldwide.
