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Turning translation into an automated process has its advantages. However, as far as machine translation (MT) has come, it’s still only one step in the process. Review and correction is an essential second step, which is what post-editing in machine translation achieves.
That human input is crucial for many reasons. One is the importance of brand voice for businesses. Another is cultural sensitivity. Then, there are the more obvious considerations of accuracy and quality.
Let’s look at what exactly post-editing is and how important it is to different industries. Plus, we explore how it brings benefits while mitigating the risks of pure machine translation.
What is Post-Editing and Why It Matters for Large Corporations
Post-editing in machine translation refers to a balanced and more refined approach. In essence, it has two stages: the machine translation and the edit. The second stage is done by humans. Reviewing and correcting the raw MT text brings it up to the required level of quality. Below, we explore the two main types, but you can also explore the post-editing’s role.
Post-editing can be light or full. The light process involves making the least changes possible to the MT output. It includes correcting spelling and grammar where the meaning is affected. It can also involve rewriting some sentences if they’re confusing. It also includes deleting any unnecessary parts of the translation and correcting other mistakes.
Full neural machine translation post-editing is more in-depth. It involves correcting all punctuation, spelling, and grammatical errors. The process also includes checking the terminology used and adjusting the syntax according to the target language. Additionally, the edit ensures the content is fluent and consistent in style and corrects the formatting.
The type you choose will depend on your business needs. Most often, companies seek a specific type of post-editing. That’s because they require text to be true to their brand voice, compliant, and accurate.
Risks of Skipping Post-Editing in Enterprise MT Workflows
One of the main reasons for adding post-editing (PE) to enterprise machine translation workflows is to avoid the risk of using raw MT. Neural machine translation isn’t perfect. In fact, there are still many challenges around scaling NMT, so it can be tricky for some target languages.
The main issue is inaccurate translations. That leads to costly errors, particularly in regulated industries, legal documents, and marketing texts. You’ve painstakingly crafted your message. That investment shouldn’t go to waste due to bad translations for other markets.
Skipping PE means using raw text, which often lacks nuance and cultural sensitivity. That means it's unlikely to align with your values, which can hurt your brand reputation. Post-editing ensures machine translation quality for enterprises. The human input mitigates the operational risk of using text that’s confusing or incomprehensible.
For many industries, MT brings cost-effectiveness. However, due to legal and compliance issues, it’s often necessary to have human input. PE can give you the best of both worlds, ensuring you’re compliant while saving time.
Benefits of Post-Editing for Enterprise-Level Translation
Human post-editing for businesses isn’t just about compliance but also about quality. Using that blended approach means you can balance cost-efficiency with high-quality outputs. You don’t have to miss out on the latest AI translation trends and the benefits they bring.
MT seems appealing until you deal with the fallout of inaccurate translations. By adding PE, you can improve scalability without worrying about whether the output is hitting the mark. You can process more texts and save money, but still feel confident when publishing and sharing those documents.
Another of the post-editing benefits for corporations is consistency. When you include PE in the process, your translations are faster. Even though they aren’t as fast as pure MT, they use the right terminology and phrasing for your audience. Whether that’s a clause in a contract or your USPs, getting it right is what will help grow your business.
Industry Use Cases Highlighting Post-Editing Necessity
Research into AI translations has revealed limitations. That particularly applies to marketing, diplomacy, literature, and healthcare communication. That’s because emotional intelligence and cultural knowledge are required for interpretation. Humans bring that in the post-editing stage. Here are a few examples of how that matters to specific industries.
Ambiguous language, content that needs to resonate, and subtext are all reasons why post-editing is necessary. Marketing campaigns, in particular, rely on culturally sensitive messaging that has to do more than just inform an audience. It needs to speak to them in a way they recognize.
In legal contracts and compliance documents, using precise terminology is crucial. Alongside MT post-editing services for legal and marketing, health organizations also benefit from PE. That’s particularly vital in medical and pharmaceutical communications. One ambiguous phrase can lead to serious consequences.
Selecting a Post-Editing Partner for Your Enterprise
Choosing the right business translation services doesn’t have to be challenging. Keep these points in mind when searching for a PE partner.
- Certifications. - What certifications do they have that recognize them for their knowledge and capabilities?
- Security. - Which security measures are in place to keep sensitive information secure?
- Confidentiality standards. - Do they understand the level of confidentiality you need? What are their policies on privacy?
- Post-editor expertise. - Who else have they worked with? What experience do they have in enterprise translation and PE?
- Technology compatibility. - Can they work with the systems you already use? Can you find compatible platforms for communicating and sharing files?
- Workflow integration. - Can they adapt to the enterprise machine translation workflows you have set up? Or help you build smooth workflows?
Conclusion: The Strategic Role of Post-Editing in Enterprise Translation Success
Every company wants to future-proof their strategies. That means keeping up with trends without too many risks and compromises. Human post-editing for businesses delivers exactly that. Get your business translation needs met by contacting Language Network. Explore Language Network’s tailored post-editing solutions for large businesses.