Is a Free Translation Worth the Risk?

In all aspects of our daily lives, technology is advancing and becoming more complex. The world of translations is no different, with free translation tools such Google Translate getting better and better, along with myriad others. With that said, can you, as a consumer, trust a free translation tool for your language needs?

This is a seemingly simple question is actually difficult to answer. Google Translate is a fantastic piece of technology that allows the world --for simple things -- to connect via language. The key word here, though, is simple. Some free machine translation software is good, but it is by no means perfect. It can certainly allow you to get a basic understanding of a text, but there will always be sections that are "lost in translation", especially slang, cultural references and humor. Only a human, and one who is qualified to perform translation work, will fully be able to capture the subtleties of the original text and express it in the translation. 

If you need a translation done, and are debating between a free machine translation or hiring a professional translation company, ask yourself: "am I willing to take the risk that an automatic translation may or may not express all the information said in the original?"

Remember, you get what you pay for, and most often, that peace of mind is worth its weight in gold.

Do you need translation services for your sensitive documents? Get in touch with Idiomatic Translations USA here.