AI translation with post-editing
Do you need translations but only have a small budget or very little time? A machine translation with post-editing may be a suitable solution for you. However, there are a few things to bear in mind. We are happy to help you achieve a good, cost-efficient result.
Do you need translations but only have a small budget or very little time? A machine translation with post-editing may be a suitable solution for you. However, there are a few things to bear in mind. We are happy to help you achieve a good, cost-efficient result.
Translations using AI – what does that mean?
An AI or machine translation utilises digital tools to translate text into a foreign language – and their quality is constantly improving. Google Translate and DeepL are particularly well-known. With the help of ChatGPT, complete texts can now be translated instantly, with just a few mouse clicks and the corresponding necessary prompts, or they can be created in the desired foreign language from the start.
Characteristics of an AI translation
The greatest advantage of machine or AI translations is obvious: speed.
The quality, however, can vary greatly depending on the type of text and writing style. Plays on words, creative turns of phrase or messages between the lines are almost always lost with machine translations. Cultural aspects are also ignored. What’s more, the terminology, spellings and other important details are inconsistent. In short, human post-editing is not only desirable but also absolutely necessary.
Another potential disadvantage is that your data is only secure if you have your own account with the provider, which usually comes at a cost. It may also be the case that the tool’s server is overloaded at peak times, causing delays.
Our credo is: fit for purpose. A text must fulfil its intended purpose. For instance, a user manual does not have to contain idiomatic expressions and sound nice – but a marketing text does. The implementation of AI-translated texts on your website can also have a negative impact on your traffic: Google still penalises AI content. So, check exactly what purpose the foreign-language text must fulfil and choose the appropriate translation method from there.
Are you not sure which translation method is right for you? Contact us – we are happy to advise you!
AI translations with post-editing
One way of improving translations created using AI tools is to perform post-editing. During post-editing, the translated texts are thoroughly read by language experts and checked for comprehensibility, style and tone of voice, and cultural factors, among other things.
Ten typical proofreading steps within post-editing:
- Has the customer-specific terminology been included?
- Have terms been translated consistently throughout the text (e.g. contract vs agreement)?
- Has the context or target group been sufficiently taken into account?
- Is the choice of words or tone of voice appropriate?
- Are the references (nested sentences) correct?
- Has the coherency in complicated sentence structures been correctly understood?
- Were the facts correctly understood and implemented?
- Have the cultural aspects relevant to the translation been taken into account?
- Does the style or flow match the type of text?
- Are spelling, grammar and punctuation correct?
Our languages
German, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish are our five key languages. We offer translations in these languages with the following language combinations:
- English–German/German–English
- Spanish–German/German–Spanish
- French–German/German–French
- Portuguese–German/German–Portuguese
- English–Portuguese/Portuguese–English
- Spanish–English/English–Spanish
- English–French/French–English
On top of that, we have access to a network of translators offering these language combinations:
- German–Danish/English–Danish
- English–Swedish/German–Swedish
- German–Italian/Italian–German
- English–Dutch/German–Dutch
- English–Polish/German–Polish
- English–Russian/German–Russian
- English–Czech/German–Czech
Have you got any questions, or would you like to get a quote?
This is our collaboration process
1. You send us the original text and the AI translation, and tell us who the target group is as well as what the intended use of the text is.
OR: You leave the AI translation to us, and we perform the finalising post-editing. If you choose this option, then it’s on to point 3.
2. We check the quality of the translation.
3. We clear up any open questions regarding your desired format, spellings and terminology or reference material.
4. You commission us with the job and agree to a binding deadline with us.
5. We go through an approval process together.
6. You receive the post-edited translation – ready to use.
7. We are always available should you have any questions.
At our translation agency in Hamburg is where all the threads come together: we are sparring partners, project managers and quality managers all in one throughout the entire process.
If you have any questions or if the scope of the project changes at short notice, you can reach us Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Building bridges with text – our mission
We are your experts for everything centred round language, text and culture – allowing us to connect companies with their customers. This means we listen closely, take a closer look and provide out-of-the-box advisory. The result: tailored solutions which enable you to get the most out of your text.
Would you like to request a quote today?
During a talk to get to know each other, we define the framework together and go through a set-up that is right for you. Just follow the link!
Frequently asked questions
We work quickly and are able to meet even tight deadlines. Within just 24 hours, we can translate short texts into one of our core languages and post-edit them for you. Even if you are under tight time pressure, we can make nearly anything possible. Contact us – we will be happy to meet your needs!
Yes, we are happy to post-edit your machine translation. Please note, however, that machine translation is not suitable for translations of websites, social media content, advertising assets, annual reports, sustainability reports, press releases, employee information, etc.
Yes and no. Our aim is for you to have texts, in the end, that do not sound like they were ever translated by tools. This effort should not be underestimated and varies depending on the quality of the original text.
In some cases, the cost of post-editing is even higher than the cost of a translation from scratch.
Of course. We ask you for any desired spellings, names and other special features such as corporate language before the start of each project.
If you send us texts via the contact form or email, they are encrypted in accordance with the European GDPR. On request, we can also create an account for you so that you can easily and securely upload your texts to our server via drag and drop. By the way: For data protection reasons, you should never enter sensitive company information into machine translation tools, but instead choose the secure route via a translation office.