The world of translation is undergoing a quiet revolution, and it's not just about words. As AI continues to advance, the future of Europe's translators is a topic of intense debate and concern. While some fear that AI will render their skills obsolete, others see it as an opportunity for innovation and collaboration. In this article, I'll explore the impact of AI on the translation industry, the changing nature of work, and the potential for human translators to adapt and thrive in this new era. So, is there still hope for Europe's translators? Let's dive in and find out.
The AI Revolution and the Translation Industry
The translation industry is no stranger to technological change. From the invention of the printing press to the development of computer-assisted translation tools, translators have always been at the forefront of innovation. However, the rise of AI is a game-changer. Large language models (LLMs) are now capable of producing human-like text, and this has significant implications for the translation profession. According to a recent survey, 79% of translators in France believe that AI poses a threat to their work, and a similar sentiment is evident in the UK, where 84% of translators expect lower demand for human translation.
But what does this mean for the future of translation? In my opinion, it's not about AI replacing human translators, but rather about the need for a new kind of collaboration. AI can handle the mundane and repetitive tasks, allowing human translators to focus on the creative and nuanced aspects of their work. This shift in focus is already evident in the market, with many translators turning to post-editing jobs, where they correct texts that have been translated by AI. While these jobs may not be as creatively fulfilling as translating from scratch, they offer a new kind of opportunity for translators to adapt and thrive.
The Changing Nature of Work
The nature of work for many translators has already changed. Laura Radosh, a German-to-English translator based in Berlin, used to receive around four job requests per month from clients such as universities, professors, and museums. However, last year, the number of offers dropped to just one per month. Many of these jobs were post-editing roles, where translators had to correct texts that had been translated by AI. While these jobs are less creative than translating from scratch, they offer a new kind of opportunity for translators to adapt and thrive.
The pay for these post-editing jobs is also significantly lower. In Germany, publishers have been found to offer rates of two to eight euros per page, which is a quarter of the average pay for translating a page from scratch. This is a stark reminder of the precarious nature of the translation profession, even before the advent of LLMs. The average income for literary translators in Germany is as little as €20,363 per annum before tax, and the latest changes in the industry mean that many translators are struggling to make ends meet.
The Human Touch: What AI Can't Do
One of the ironies of the AI revolution is that literary translation now appears to be a comparatively safer career choice than its technical counterpart. The HarperCollins-owned imprint Harlequin France is working with a French communications agency to produce translations that are generated by AI software and then post-edited by humans. However, these trial runs are confined to the more pulp-oriented reaches of the market, such as Harlequin's titles, which include 'A Mistress' Confession' and 'The Embrace of a Prince'.
What makes literary translation so unique is the creative and nuanced nature of the work. As Jörn Cambreleng, the director of Atlas, a French organization promoting literary translation, puts it, 'Machine translation is not creative. These systems are built to produce sentences that are generic, sentences that have been said before or sound like they have been said before. Whereas good human translators strive to put into words something that has never been said before.'
This is where the human touch comes in. Human translators have the ability to understand the characters and their motivations, and to adjust them in their head to individual situations and genres. As Katy Derbyshire, a Berlin-based translator, explains, 'AI really cannot do dialogue. When you are translating from scratch, you learn to understand the characters and their motivations, and you’re constantly adjusting them in your head – to individual situations, but also to genre. The dialogue that AI came up with just didn’t suit the character description at all.'
The Future of Translation: A Collaboration of Humans and AI
So, what does the future hold for Europe's translators? In my opinion, it's not about AI replacing human translators, but rather about the need for a new kind of collaboration. AI can handle the mundane and repetitive tasks, allowing human translators to focus on the creative and nuanced aspects of their work. This shift in focus is already evident in the market, with many translators turning to post-editing jobs, where they correct texts that have been translated by AI.
The key to success in this new era will be for human translators to embrace the opportunities presented by AI. This means developing new skills, such as post-editing, and finding new ways to collaborate with AI tools. As Fernando Prieto Ramos, of the University of Geneva's faculty of translation and interpreting, explains, 'The trend is gradually reverting again with a more diversified training offer.'
In conclusion, the future of Europe's translators is not about fear and uncertainty, but rather about opportunity and innovation. By embracing the opportunities presented by AI, human translators can adapt and thrive in this new era. As Jörn Cambreleng puts it, 'Good human translators strive to put into words something that has never been said before.' And that, in my opinion, is the essence of what makes translation such a unique and fascinating profession.
