Will translation be one of the professions to disappear in the future? The expert’s opinion

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In recent years, we have seen technology gradually increase its presence in fields such as translation. The most obvious example is automatic translators, most notably Google Translate, along with other websites, apps and devices whose main purpose is to translate texts or audio recordings into other languages.
Faced with the appearance of technological solutions such as these, is it possible that in the future there may be no more professional translators? Will these “machines”, using artificial intelligence technologies, be capable of replacing the human brain? There are certainly a lot of reasons to think otherwise.
Barbara Beatrice Lavitola, manager of BBLTranslation, tells us a little more about what makes translation an essential profession in many fields. This is what she said:

1. Much more than just a literal translation

A text translated using programs such as Google Translate, Babylon or Reverso can be characterised by its more literal tone, without the possibility of any alternative interpretations. In translation it is important to take the objective of the client into account, for example the register or purpose of the message, or the intention to persuade or sell. Clearly, a literal translation is far from what the vast majority of clients requesting professional translations are looking for.
In advertising terms, brands need a process called transcreation to transform a message from one language into another, with a translation that interprets the context and can even involve adapting an image or design.
Additionally, legal documents are also far from literal translations as often the translator is an expert in these matters who is familiar with the legal systems in the countries whose languages they are working with. For example, it is essential for the sworn translator to know the similarities and differences between continental law and the Anglo-Saxon Common Law system. For many terms and concepts there isn’t an exact translation, so the translator needs to know exactly how to express the meaning in the other language.

2. Translation is also localisation

Without a doubt, translating a text into another language requires the translator to have a perfect understanding of the cultural context. A translation process that doesn’t take cultural or social localisation factors into account can contain serious mistakes. A popular example is in the television series Game of Thrones, with the translation of one of the show’s most memorable phrases said by Hodor—hold the door.
Whether in informative, advertising, legal or specifically-themed texts (for example in medicine or economics), socio-economic and cultural aspects are great added values in a translation and ones that only a professional can deliver.

3. The value of design in translation

In addition to a professional quality translation, the client also often requires adaptation of a design, so that it fits in with the new text, using professional publishing software such as InDesign. This is the case, for example, for brochures, manuals, magazines, catalogues, newsletters, posters, presentations, cards, books, eBooks or other promotional materials!
To not jeopardise designs, we recommend that clients ask for translation of their texts in Adobe InDesign to preserve the original layout.

4. The responsibility of a sworn translator

In regard to sworn translations, the service itself requires the translator to take on the responsibility of handling sensitive documents for the client, whether that is a private individual, public body or private company. Undoubtedly, a poorly-executed sworn translation can result in significant damage. If the translation of this kind of document were to be left to a machine, would the manufacturers of the technology assume liability for any errors? Certainly, technology is a tool that is more or less capable of translating a legal document, but we have yet to see a technological company that dares to take responsibility for the translation obtained. Therefore, the role of the sworn translator continues to be an essential element in this process.

5. Correction of the original text

When a translation agency or a professional translator receives a text from the client, the first step is to carry out a thorough analysis to get a feel for the content and to detect any possible errors that need to be flagged up. In many cases, the work of the translator permits correction of those errors resulting in improvement of both the original text and the translation. Detecting errors in the original text is a highly complex process and one that is largely beyond the capabilities of technology, meaning that these inaccuracies will remain and be transferred over to the translated text.
Barbara Beatrice Lavitola emphasises that there are clear advantages to the technological advances in the field of translation and that technology has provided professional translators with various tools such as programs to create translation memories in order to maintain terminological consistency in client documents, online dictionaries that facilitate the search for words, forums in which translators can discuss issues, etc. However aspects such as intentionality, context, transcreation, interpretation of the message or the correction of errors are not within the range of any kind of technology, guaranteeing a stable future for translation and interpretation professionals.

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In accordance with the regulations applicable to the protection of personal data, and the new provisions contained in the General Data Protection Regulation (hereinafter GDPR), directly applicable from 25 May 2018, Bibielle Global Translations, SL informs you of the following:
i. Contact details of the Data Controller: Bibielle Global Translations, SL (hereinafter BBL), with Tax Identification No. B65336885, registered office at Calle Cartagena 241, Barcelona, 08025, Spain, and contact e-mail legal@bbltranslation.eu.

ii. Purposes: Data collected through the contact e-mail address, or service quotation request form, will be incorporated into files owned by BBL with the purpose of handling, managing and responding to your request or contact. The data provided will not be used for purposes other than those for which it was collected.

iii. In addition, and on a voluntary basis, you may provide your consent (by ticking the corresponding box or registration) to us sending commercial communications, by any route and/or electronic means, and keeping you informed about the services which, being similar to the current ones, may interest you, and which BBL offers to its Clients and users under more advantageous conditions, and to carry out market or customer satisfaction surveys.

iv. Retention: The data will be retained for the time necessary to achieve the purposes for which it was collected, in order to respond to the subject of your request or contact, and while there continues to be a mutual interest. It will be deleted when it is no longer necessary for such purposes, the commercial or contractual relationship ends, unless its retention is required by law.

If you provide your consent to the sending of commercial communications, personal data will be processed actively while you have the status of User, or until you withdraw your consent.

v. Data communication: In no event will your data be transferred or communicated to a third party, unless required by law; nor will it be transferred internationally, except with the unequivocal consent of the data subject, and prior information about the possible recipients, purpose and, where appropriate, country of destination.

vi. Duty of secrecy: BBL complies strictly with the duty of secrecy and confidentiality of personal data, and for this reason has implemented technical, organisational and security measures to prevent its unauthorised alteration, loss, processing and/or access, taking account of the state of the art, the nature of the stored data and the risks to which they are exposed, all of this as established by Spanish and European legislation on the Protection of Personal Data.

vii. Rights of the data subject:

a. To exercise the rights of access, rectification, erasure and objection, limitation of treatment, data portability and not being the subject of automated individual decisions, by writing to Bibielle Global Translations, SL, Calle Cartagena 241, Barcelona, 08025 Spain or at legal@bbltranslation.eu indicating the subject of your request, and attaching a [copy of your] national identity card or passport.
b. To complain to the Supervisory Authority: if a user considers that their data is not being used properly, and this matter is not addressed by BBL, they may submit a complaint to the relevant data protection authority, which in Spain is the Agencia Española de Protección de Datos.

Important warning: we recommend that you carefully read the contents of this legal text prior to providing any personal data through the website of Bibielle Global Translations, SL, owner of and responsible for the correct application of the Privacy Policy.
In accordance with the regulations applicable to the protection of personal data, and the new provisions contained in the General Data Protection Regulation (hereinafter GDPR), directly applicable from 25 May 2018, Bibielle Global Translations, SL informs you of the following:
i. Contact details of the Data Controller: Bibielle Global Translations, SL (hereinafter BBL), with Tax Identification No. B65336885, registered office at Calle Cartagena 241, Barcelona, 08025 Spain, and contact e-mail legal@bbltranslation.eu.

ii. Purposes: Data collected through the contact e-mail address, or service quotation request form, will be incorporated into files owned by BBL with the purpose of handling, managing and responding to your request or contact. The data provided will not be used for purposes other than those for which it was collected.

iii. In addition, and on a voluntary basis, you may provide your consent (by ticking the corresponding box or registration) to us sending commercial communications, by any route and/or electronic means, and keeping you informed about the services which, being similar to the current ones, may interest you, and which BBL offers to its Clients and users under more advantageous conditions, and to carry out market or customer satisfaction surveys.

iv. Retention: The data will be retained for the time necessary to achieve the purposes for which it was collected, in order to respond to the subject of your request or contact, and while there continues to be a mutual interest. It will be deleted when it is no longer necessary for such purposes, the commercial or contractual relationship ends, unless its retention is required by law.

If you provide your consent to the sending of commercial communications, personal data will be processed actively while you have the status of User, or until you withdraw your consent.

v. Data communication: In no event will your data be transferred or communicated to a third party, unless required by law; nor will it be transferred internationally, except with the unequivocal consent of the data subject, and prior information about the possible recipients, purpose and, where appropriate, country of destination.

vi. Duty of secrecy: BBL complies strictly with the duty of secrecy and confidentiality of personal data, and for this reason has implemented technical, organisational and security measures to prevent its unauthorised alteration, loss, processing and/or access, taking account of the state of the art, the nature of the stored data and the risks to which they are exposed, all of this as established by Spanish and European legislation on the Protection of Personal Data.

vii. Rights of the data subject:

a. To exercise the rights of access, rectification, erasure and objection, limitation of treatment, data portability and not being the subject of automated individual decisions, by writing to Bibielle Global Translations, SL, Calle Cartagena 241, Barcelona, 08025 Spain or at legal@bbltranslation.eu indicating the subject of your request, and attaching a [copy of your] national identity card or passport.
b. To complain to the Supervisory Authority: if a user considers that their data is not being used properly, and this matter is not addressed by BBL, they may submit a complaint to the relevant data protection authority, which in Spain is the Agencia Española de Protección de Datos.

viii. If you receive commercial communications by electronic means, in accordance with the Spanish Law of Information Society and Electronic Commerce Services (LSSICE), you may withdraw your consent, unsubscribe or modify your data using the same channel, through the e-mail address legal@bbltranslation.eu, which will be specified in each communication.