| Imagine a world in which you speak or write your | | | | economically feasible. And, let's not forget the |
| language, and the rest of the globe could instantly | | | | countless new words and expressions that we |
| understand you in theirs. | | | | invent every single day. |
| While linguists tremble at the thought, perfect | | | | Some experts estimate that the top 10 spoken |
| software-performed translation (known as | | | | languages on the planet produce a combined |
| "machine translation") would save governments | | | | 100,000 new technical terminology, slang words |
| and businesses many billions of dollars a year. With | | | | and localized expressions each and every year! |
| enough platforms and distribution, it would | | | | How can these possibly be captured and |
| increase productivity and add perhaps trillions | | | | translated across so many languages on a timely |
| more of value to worldwide GDP. | | | | basis? |
| Some even believe that frictionless communication | | | | I suggest that you carefully read this paragraph |
| across languages would help different cultures and | | | | and imagine how software, which is rigid and pitiful |
| religions to see eye to eye, helping to bring about | | | | in the face of human subtley, could possibly |
| peace on earth (i.e., read as "no more war in | | | | translate it with both figurative and literal |
| Iraq"). | | | | accuracy. You see, language is not a science, but |
| So the first key question on the minds of many is | | | | an art. As is translation. And art is a human |
| whether or not technology will ever replace | | | | endeavor. |
| human translation services. | | | | Okay, so we are all relieved to know that the |
| The short answer is...drum roll please...not in our | | | | livelihood of individual linguists and translation |
| lifetime, if ever. | | | | services is not at risk. But what about our second |
| Why? Because software can only produce | | | | question... |
| perfect output when it receives perfect input; and | | | | Will translation technology increase the ROI on |
| humans almost never communicate with perfect | | | | globalization and produce social benefits that we |
| usage of the rules of grammar and terminology | | | | only dare imagine in today's rocky world? |
| upon which software relies to translate one | | | | My friends, I am happy to say that cultures, |
| language into another. | | | | businesses, lovers and even religions are already |
| The job of building and updating a database of | | | | being brought together by these technologies. The |
| literally billions of exceptions to the rules of | | | | effects in our lifetime will be monumental. |
| language, and then match them between | | | | And, in my subsequent two columns, I will tell you |
| hundreds of languages and thousands of dialects, | | | | how. Hasta luego amigos! |
| would require more humans than will ever be | | | | |