Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE) has a distinct place in today’s translation industry. This service refers to the process of automatic translation with translation tools during the first stage. Translators then correct the generated machine translation.

The rapid increase in globalization, parallel to global commercial developments, has also increased the need for translation in many language pairs. Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE) services are utilized more than ever to relieve the increasing translation workload and accelerate the translation process.

How is Machine Translation Post-Editing Done?

After deciding to utilize MTPE, the text is automatically translated using a machine translation tool. The translation is conducted using translation memories obtained and saved from previous human translations in the specified field. An extensive glossary for the specified language pair, a group of grammar rules containing the sentence structure and grammar rules of each language, and a group of rules connecting the original sentence to the translation sentence must be added to the machine translation software to handle the machine translation. Machine translation can be a feature in different CAT Tools, and there are independent software programs on the market developed solely for the purpose of machine translation.

After the machine translation quickly generates results, translators must check the delivered text for consistency in grammar, punctuation, syntax, uppercase and lowercase characters, meaning, word selection, sentence structure, spelling rules and numerals. This check is called Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE). A translator performing MTPE also aligns the machine translation results according to the client instructions.

The work done with MTPE is different from proofreading, because the text generated during the machine translation process is revealed with the information and rules uploaded to a related software and contains differences compared to human translation. Professional MTPE translators know these differences and the characteristics of the machine translation results and review machine translation output while bearing these in mind.

The Contribution of Machine Translation to the Translation Process

Having progressed greatly in terms of quality and capacity with the advancement of technology, machine translation can, in many ways, benefit the processes conducted in the translation industry. Professional translators check and correct machine translation results obtained using the right machine translation tool, reducing translation costs and noticeably accelerating the translation process.

The Future of Machine Translation

Considering the investments made by large corporations, machine translation and related MTPE services will persist in the translation industry in the future and will receive greater demand.

Neural Machine Translation (NMT) focuses on delivering meaningful translations not by working word for word but by separating sentences and words into a meaningful whole. Machine translation is expected more in workflows in such a technological era. Companies, such as Amazon, Microsoft, and AliExpress, that are aware of this technological progress are strengthening their global presence by rapidly and cheaply translating content into more languages at a lower cost. We witness the huge investments that these forward-thinking and innovative companies make in MTPE service. It would be a mistake to think that only giant corporations use MTPE services in competitive markets, where only those who can adapt themselves to the progress and innovations will survive. We are here to offer small and medium companies the opportunity to receive our Machine Translation Post-Editing services, because we know that in the future machine translation will be one of the biggest elements by volume in the translation industry.