Machines are getting smarter and different businesses all around the globe are increasingly adopting automated and machine learning-powered approaches, but what does translation have to do with that?! 

The number of words translated every day is on the rise, and translation industry players are incorporating new techniques to increase their productivity and efficiency, and offer their clients more than one option. Today, as a client looking for professional translation services that match your specific requirements, you need to weigh three or more different translation choices, including regular human translation, pure machine translation (MT), light machine translation post editing (MTPE), and full MTPE. 

In this piece, we will explore the conceptual definition of MTPE as well as the key factors you should consider before opting for a particular type of translation service over the other ones.

What is machine translation post-editing?

Backed by the tremendous breakthrough in artificial intelligence and machine learning, machine translation has witnessed a massive improvement in terms of accuracy and quality. However, let’s call a spade a spade; machine translation still has a long way to go before it can be compared with human translation.

In fact, automated software translation services can be a good option in some cases, especially when fed with glossaries and specific terminology banks. Long lists that contain simple data and are intended for short time spans and internal business purposes, for instance, are good examples of texts that can be handled by machines. On the other hand, precise documents with sophisticated terms can be only tackled by human translators and expert linguists.

However, there is a middle ground and it is machine translation post editing where humans intervene to refine the machine translation’s final output. MTPE is faster than human translation, yet provides much higher quality than raw machine translation and it works out as a favorable solution in many projects.

Types of machine translation post editing

There are two different levels of MTPE, and each of them involves a different set of tasks and suits a different type of project.

Light post editing

In this type, editors do not conduct major stylic changes to the machine-translated content; they only check the text for grammatical and other linguistic flaws. Light post editing translation saves time and money but does not serve the need for creativity or precise language localization. In other words, light MTPE is more concerned with delivering the meaning of the source document properly, uncaring about the human touch.

Full post editing

Full post editing involves the conduction of extreme changes and heavy edits. Definitely, full post editing takes more time and costs more money, but it addresses the machine translated text more intensively and takes care of simple details like small nuances, idioms, and other figurative languages.

How should you choose?

Having a pre-set plan for your translation projects in addition to a thorough understanding of your business priorities help you pick the right type of translation services for your needs. Read on to get a grasp of the significant factors you should pay attention to before choosing a specific type along with a detailed comparison between human translation, machine translation, and machine translation post editing.

You should consider;

• The reason why you translate the text.
• Your translation project budget and time frames.
• The level of linguistic and technical complexity within your content.
• The quality you are seeking out, with respect to the cost and turnaround time.
• The translation vendor you partner with.

Now that you have the previous points covered, you can find the answer to your questions right in the following table.

Contentech your MTPE Partner

Since 1994, Contentech has been proudly providing all types of translation in a myriad of languages. Backed by our ISO 17100 certification, we have completed more than 1200 projects with high-profile clients, including giant tech businesses Google, Microsoft, and Sony. Our machine translation post editing services have been widely acknowledged by our clients in the Middle East and Africa. We provide a combination of cutting-edge machine translation and professional language experts to come up with the highest quality at the most competitive rates and quickest turnaround times. Partner with us now and take your business to the next level.

Contact us now and get a free quote!