Translation as a Profession (Benjamins Translation Library)

364 Translation as a Professionthe cost of typing altogether. Of course translation, just like any other type ofcommunication or human activity, will get increasingly mechanical, computerisedand automated. This will result in three different translation markets, i.e. (1)low-cost-low-quality machine translation, (2) very high-quality high-cost humantranslation for critically important material, and (3) a ‘middle-of-the-road’ marketwhere the best will be found along with the worst. Whatever the outcome, themove towards machine translation will carry on apace. For one simple reason:automation reduces costs; so, sooner or later, what can be automated will be andthis inevitable development will determine the future of technical and specialisedtranslation.In fact, technical translation and specialised translation are likely to evolvein completely opposite directions. There will first be increased industrialisationof the translation process under the joint influence of increasing demand andglobalisation. There will thus be increased mechanisation (in both meanings of theword), more automation (way beyond what present ‘aids’ do), the developmentof voice technology, increases in bona fide or ‘pseudo’ salaried employment, andfurther rationalisation of quality controls, materials, tools and procedures. Theindustrial model of machine translation (i.e. division of tasks, pre-translation,post-editing) will inevitably come to be applied to most human translation, evento the extreme where the ‘text bits’ are pushed on to the translator’s workstationvia the extranet, completely cut off from any kind of context, translated, andintegrated directly into whatever media applies.Everyone will have to accept that technical and specialised language willbecome more and more rational and ‘controlled’ in order to make it moreeffective and machine-compatible. Translators know full well that quite a lotof what they get to translate is of little interest and is either slipshod prose orgobbledegook written by people for whom writing is a chore. And they mustbe prepared to accept the fact that, whether or not it is combined with humanintervention, machine translation can sometimes be a cost-effective answer to areal communication problem (in the same way as gisting, or other forms of rough,selective, indexing, synoptic, or partial translation).Academics in particular will also have to accept the fact that translators are inthe business of earning a living by providing a service. They will have to acceptthe fact that the specialised translator has a duty towards the work provider, therecipient of the translation, and the reader or end-user. From the work provider’spoint of view, he has a duty to be efficient and cost-effective. From the recipient’sand the end-user’s point of view, he must produce material that is unambiguous,clear, comprehensible, concise and accurate and make sure that the end producthe delivers (the translated material) is safe, secure, and ergonomic. That is the beall and end all of translation.