Comparative study of machine translation versus human translation
Youyou Lu · Lecture Notes on Language and Literature · 2024
This study provides a comprehensive and in-depth comparative analysis of machine translation and human translation. In terms of translation quality, human translation excels in accuracy, fluency, and cultural adaptability due to human expertise and linguistic proficiency. Conversely, machine translation demonstrates superior efficiency, particularly suited for large-scale, urgent, or real-time translation projects. In terms of cost-effectiveness, machine translation holds a more economic advantage in long-term, large-scale tasks, while human translation is more cost-effective in short-term, small-scale tasks. However, rather than being mutually exclusive, these methods can complement each other. Machine translation can serve as an auxiliary tool for human translation, offering initial translations and specialized knowledge to optimize results and refine quality and adaptability. Future translation practices should make full use of the complementarity of the two to promote the healthy development of the translation industry.