Machine translation vs. human translation are two types of translation approaches that are often compared to efficient content translation. Machine translation is faster and more cost-effective, but it still has limitations in understanding the context and nuances of the language. On the other hand, human translation offers better accuracy and cultural sensitivity but is often more expensive and time-consuming.
This article will discuss how each method works, its advantages and disadvantages, and the best situation to use machine translation, human translation, or a combination of both to suit your website’s needs.
What is machine translation? (How it works, pros, and cons)
Machine translation automatically translates text from one language to another using computer algorithms without human intervention. The technology constantly evolves, from rule-based approaches to artificial intelligence-based models such as Neural Machine Translation (NMT). Using machine learning models, machine translation services such as Google Translate and DeepL can analyze the context of the sentence rather than just translating word by word.
How it works
Before reaching the advanced Neural Machine Translation (NMT) systems today, machine translation underwent significant development through different approaches.
- Rule-Based Machine Translation (RBMT): Uses predefined linguistic rules to translate text.
- Statistical Machine Translation (SMT): Relying on statistical analysis of a bilingual corpus to make predictions of the best translation.
- Neural Machine Translation (NMT): Uses artificial neural networks to understand context and produce more natural and accurate translations.
Now, machine translation works by automatically processing text using translation models. For example, in Google Translate, users paste text, select the target language, and receive an instant translation. Advanced models like Neural Machine Translation (NMT) improve accuracy by analyzing sentence context rather than just translating word by word.
Pros
- Can translate large amounts of text in seconds.
- Costs tend to be low, reducing the need for human translators
- It can be used at any time without relying on human schedules.
- Produces uniform translations on a large scale.
Cons
- It is challenging to capture implied meanings or idioms in the source language.
- Cannot handle humor, wordplay, or idiomatic expressions well.
- Some translations may sound unnatural or difficult to understand.
- To ensure accuracy, editing by human translators is often required.
- Limited in understanding context.
What is human translation? (How it works, pros, and cons)
Human translation refers to translating content from one language to another by a professional translator. Unlike machine translation, which relies on algorithms, human translation involves linguistic expertise, cultural understanding, and contextual adaptation. This method is widely used for business communication, literature, legal documents, and marketing content to ensure accuracy and natural readability.
How it works
Human translation is done by skilled translators who understand both the source and target languages. The process typically involves.
- Text analysis – The translator reviews the source material to understand its context, tone, and purpose.
- Translation – The translator carefully converts the content into the target language while maintaining meaning, cultural relevance, and readability.
- Editing & proofreading – The translated text undergoes revision and quality checks to ensure accuracy and consistency.
- Final review and delivery – The finalized translation is reviewed for errors before being delivered to the client or published.
Professional translators may work with translation software such as PO editors or directly within multilingual content management systems (CMS) like WordPress using plugins. This allows them to streamline the translation process while ensuring linguistic precision.
Pros
- Human translators provide precise translations, especially for complex content requiring contextual understanding.
- Unlike machines, human translators grasp cultural nuances, idioms, and expressions to make translations feel natural.
- Translators can adapt phrasing, tone, and style to fit different audiences and maintain brand identity.
- The translation process includes editing and proofreading to ensure consistency and eliminate errors.
Cons
- Human translation takes longer than machine translation, especially for large volumes of content.
- Professional translation services can be expensive, particularly for specialized fields such as legal or medical translation.
- Skilled translators for specific languages or industries may be difficult to find, leading to project delays.
When to use machine translation vs. human translation?
Choosing between machine and human translation depends on accuracy, context, and speed. Machine translation offers quick results but often lacks precision, while human translation ensures linguistic and cultural accuracy but requires more time and cost. The decision ultimately depends on the type of content, its intended audience, and the level of quality needed.
Best use cases for machine translation
Machine translation is ideal when speed is a priority, and absolute accuracy isn’t the main concern. While it cannot grasp nuances, it can be useful in cases where basic understanding is enough. With advancements in AI-driven translation tools, its reliability has improved, but it still falls short in capturing cultural subtleties.
- Large-scale content translation – Useful for quickly translating bulk content, such as user-generated content or product descriptions.
- Instant translations – Beneficial for real-time applications like chatbots or live customer support where speed is essential.
- Multilingual search optimization – Helps businesses analyze search trends and customer queries in different languages.
- Draft translations – This can be used as a starting point before human translators refine and correct errors.
Best use cases for human translation
Human translation is preferred when accuracy, cultural relevance, and natural fluency are critical. Professional translators ensure the content conveys the intended meaning while maintaining tone and context. This is especially important in marketing, law, and healthcare industries, where errors can have serious consequences.
- Legal and official documents – Contracts, policies, and compliance-related texts require precise wording and legal accuracy.
- Marketing and branding materials – Advertisements, slogans, and website content need cultural adaptation to engage the target audience.
- Medical and technical documents – Specialized terminology must be accurately translated to prevent misunderstandings.
- Literary and creative works – Books, scripts, and creative content need human interpretation to retain artistic intent.
While machine translation is useful for speed and volume, human translation remains the gold standard for ensuring clarity, accuracy, and engagement in critical content.
Choose the right translation approach
Selecting the right translation method depends on your needs, budget, and content type. Machine translation offers speed and efficiency, making it ideal for large-scale projects, while human translation ensures cultural accuracy and nuanced meaning, making it essential for specialized content.
The table below compares machine and human translation across key criteria:
Feature | Machine translation | Human translation |
Accuracy | Variable accuracy may need human review | Highly accurate and natural-sounding maintains tone and style |
Speed & Volume | Instant translation, handles large volumes 24/7 | Slower, limited by human capacity |
Cost | Lower cost per word, subscription options available | Higher cost per word, project-based pricing |
Cultural Sensitivity | Limited cultural awareness may produce literal translations and miss contextual nuances | Excellent cultural understanding adapts idioms naturally, preserves emotional impact |
Best For | Generic, non-specialized content, high-volume projects, time-sensitive materials | Marketing content, legal documents, technical materials |
Consistency | Consistent wording but may lack contextual accuracy | High with proper quality control |
Complexity Handling | Works well for basic to moderate complexity but struggles with intricate language patterns | Handles complex structures, idioms, and specialized content with expertise |
Combining machine translation & human translation
Instead of choosing between machine and human translation, combining both approaches offers a balanced solution. Machine translation provides speed and efficiency, while human translation ensures accuracy and cultural adaptation. By integrating these two methods, businesses can maximize both benefits while compensating for their shortcomings.
The common approach is first to generate a baseline translation using machine translation. This provides a quick and cost-effective starting point. After that, human translators refine and enhance the translation to ensure natural fluency and contextual accuracy. This process, known as post-editing machine translation (PEMT), reduces time and cost compared to purely human translation.
Benefits of combining machine and human translation:
- Machine translation accelerates the process, while human editing ensures quality.
- Reduces the need for full human translation, cutting costs while maintaining accuracy.
- Ideal for quickly handling large volumes of content without compromising essential quality.
- Businesses can prioritize human review for critical content while relying on machine translation for less essential material.
For example, a business could use machine translation for blog posts and user-generated content while applying human review to marketing materials and legal documents. This strategy allows companies to maintain affordability and precision in their multilingual content.
However, not all tools support this hybrid approach. Choosing a platform that allows manual post-editing of machine translations is essential. Tools like Linguise, with its front-end live editor, enable users to refine translations directly on the website, ensuring an optimal blend of automation and human oversight.
Conclusion
Machine translation vs. human translation are two approaches with advantages and disadvantages. Machine translation offers speed and efficiency in translating large amounts of text but often lacks accuracy in capturing context and cultural nuances. In contrast, human translation is superior in accuracy and readability but requires more time and money. Therefore, combining the two through post-editing machine translation is the best solution to balance translation speed and quality.
If you are looking for a way to implement an efficient and accurate translation strategy, using a tool that supports the combination of machine and human translation is essential. Linguise offers a powerful solution with a front-end live editor feature that enables translation enhancements on the website. Try Linguise today and optimize your multilingual content with ease!
