Flaws of Machine Translation (AI)

• AI breaks down a translation sentence by sentence.
• That means terms and titles will often be translated differently within the same paragraph and sections of a document. Proper nouns are often left in English but other times are translated. Imagine the confusion if the name of your ministry or project is different every time it appears in the text.
• The same person may be referred to as a man in one sentence and as a woman in the next. From one sentence to another they will address the audience as singular and informal (using tú) then formally (using usted) and then in plural (using ustedes). All of this can be very confusing to a reader.
• Quality translation services will help maintain consistency in style, voice and terms not only in each paragraph, but throughout an entire publication (document, policy, website, magazine or book) as well as across all publications of your organization.

A quality translator is good at doing research. This starts by compiling a list of key terms in your ministry area in English and Spanish like this one for Tribunals. Catholic ministries have their own lingo and it’s important to use the same terms throughout to avoid confusion.

In addition, any direct quotes will be researched to find the official translation in the target language. Machines (AI) will simply translate the words.

• For example, if you quote Scripture passages in your publication, a quality translator will find out which approved Bible translation you would like to use in the target language and will use that translation throughout.
• Particularly for faith-based translations, research is a must. Many philosophical, theological and ecclesial texts have official translations in many languages. For example, if you quote from an Apostolic Exhortation the translator needs to use the official Vatican translation for the quote.
• A quality translator will do research to find those publications and use the text from the official translation.

Imagine a literal translation of these colloquial phrases and the confusion they could cause:

• “I’m going to hit the hay.”
• “I reckon I’m fixin’ to eat.”
• “He snapped me a bussin’ recipe. No cap.”
• “He’s still wet behind the ears.”
• “This pizza is wicked good, better than what you get in The Big Apple.”

A quality translator who knows the audience can either provide a similar colloquial phrase in the context of the reader, or explain what the original intended to communicate without using slang, depending on the client’s preferences.

Quality translators need to first understand the meaning behind the words then be able to convey that meaning in a way the reader will understand.
This requires an understanding of the cultural context of both the writer and the reader.
For example, are the readers recent immigrants from one certain country or a mix of many cultures (better to avoid slang or other country-specific language) or have they lived in the U.S. for decades and understand the culture/traditions of the predominant culture?

Quality translators are creative and able to adapt the original text in a way that still conveys the meaning in a way the reader is able to understand and relate to within their own cultural context. They can make sure that a translation sounds natural in the target language.
Quality translators can adapt a text to an audience. For example, your audience for a translation may have less experience with formal education and need a lower reading level in the target language.

Any errors in the original will also appear in the translation.
Quality translators carefully consider every word and reflect critically on the work as they translate. Often times they will be able to point out errors, inconsistencies or unclear language in the original.

In order to ensure your translation project reflects your desire and commitment to serve Hispanic Catholics in your ministry, hire a professional, experienced and quality translator today! Check out our Best Practices page for advice about working successfully with a translator.