Translation resources and varying degrees of accuracy

Online translation sites

There are a few ways to translate from one language to another with the advent of the internet.  For a start, there are on-line websites dedicated to just this purpose.  What they can do is truly fantastic when you consider how complicated human languages really are.   However, as human languages are complicated, it means their accuracy in translation can still have a lot to be desired.

For example, using the Free Translation Online site, I will translate a sentence first into Spanish and then back into English.  These are the results.

English: I will translate this sentence first into Spanish and then back into English.

Spanish: Traduciré esta oración primero en el español y luego atrás en el inglés.

English: I will translate this prayer firstly in Spanish and then behind in English.

Well, as you can see, although the translation is close, it is also not right.  On the other hand, you can at least have a lot of fun with these types of websites!

Native speakers correcting your translation into a second language

There is an alternative to using on-line translation sites if you already have knowledge of your target translation language.  This alternative involves native speakers correcting your attempt at a translation in their language for free.  There is a website, Lang-8, dedicated to this exact purpose where native speakers correct your work and in return, you correct the work of people trying to write into your native language.  

 

This is a fantastic place to practice a foreign language and definitely a site that everyone learning a language should utilise as part of his/her journey.  It is a truly valuable resource.

However, there is a downside.  Firstly, short and entertaining written pieces are hugely more popular to be corrected reasonably quickly than something quite long and/or formal.  You also cannot always rely on the accuracy of the corrections from your native speaker as it is possible for him/her to easily omit errors, get it wrong or misinterpret what you are trying to say.   

I know my second language really well.  Can’t I translate into it for an accurate translation?

I would certainly never recommend translating into a second language.  You will never know another language like you know your own native language.  Even manipulating your own native language to form a wonderful written piece is a skill, let alone meeting the same standards in a second language.  Just don’t do it!

If you wanted to lower your costs of hiring a translator from the outset, you could perhaps make the translation yourself.  Perhaps you could also get it corrected on a site like Lang-8 by native speakers.  However afterwards, find a professional translator to go through your work to correct your errors and make the language sound more natural. 

Find a professional translator

So what happens if you need something to be 100% accurate?  Well, this is pretty obvious.  I would definitely recommend finding a reputable translator.  There are sites dedicated to this purpose such as Proz.com.  This is a popular internet site to find freelance translators.  What could be more simple?

The online world has made obtaining translations easier than ever whether it is for fun, to practice another language or to find a professional translator.  But on a final note, there is nothing that beats a human translator translating into his/her native language!