Introducing the "PLG Free Translation Tool" - Translate into more than 40 languages!

September 2009 by PLG

We are glad to unveil our new "PLG Free Translation Tool", offering free translations in more than 40 world languages. But before you try it out, learn a little more about our free tool:

PLG's free translation tool is what the translation industry calls "machine translation", sometimes called "automatic translation". Machine translation is a process of translating text automatically without the need of human translators, usually with the help of computers. Machine translation is not the same as "translation memory". While both are technologies that may make use of a computer, translation memory is a stored computer memory of a translation that a human has done in the past.

Explaining Translation Memory:

The building of a translation memory begins during the development of a new project. A terminology database is created so that related or similar projects are translated with greater ease and less time. This database also assists the translator with providing accurate and consistent translations throughout the span of the project. Translation professionals have found translation memory a very powerful tool for translation projects as the contents of the terminology database are specific to the projects in question.

Learn more about how PLG uses translation memory for consistent and low cost translations.

Explaining Machine Translation:

Whereas translation memory does not translate your materials (this is the job of the translator), machine translation is a translation done entirely by a computer or machine without the assistance of a human. The machine translates the assigned texts based on prior translations collected from a variety of sources, including internet databases, library materials, publications and so forth. The translation is therefore not capable of translating materials based on particular projects or topics like translation memory is capable of doing so, which makes the translation results more variable and less consistent.

So have we entered a world where machines have replaced humans? No, not quite yet. While it is the goal of many machine translation software makers to replace human translation, it is not our intention to replace the professional quality of human translations. In fact, no machine translation software has come even close to becoming as accurate as a professional human translator or translation memory. The meaning of words depends on their context. There are many reasons for this, but one reason we like to emphasize is the language we acquire through our cultural upbringing that a computer cannot understand.

Then what is the benefit of using the PLG Free Translation Tool?

Besides being a fun tool to play around with, our "PLG Free Translation Tool" can be used to understand foreign language text. Trying to read blogs or news sites in a language that is not English? Copy and paste the text into our free translation tool to get a feeling of what the web site is telling you. Translate your e-mails, your chats, and other texts that you may encounter online or offline.

While our free translation tool has many advantages, there are clearly some purposes that are not well suited for our free tool. Machine translation does not replace a human translator and should not be used to translate text for printing or presentation purposes. You may find that the output of machine translation may have inconsistencies with the positioning of verbs and nouns. This is because syntax and grammar rules vary depending on speech and cultural context. For printing, presentation, or communication in a business setting, the use of a professional translator is indispensable. Please contact us or request a quick quote for a culturally correct and professional translation.

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