My Conversations with ChatGPT
Machine Translation (MT) and translations generated by AI have brought about a paradigm shift in the translation industry. The output of MT will continue to improve, especially when associated with clients’ translation memories and human editing. Language Service Providers are adapting and are including MT in their processes, when MT is applicable. While linguists will continue to be essential in the process, their role will shift from that of translators to validators of content generated by MT. At Excel Translations, we wanted to know what AI thinks about all of this and decided to have an open conversation on the matter with ChatGPT. I will regularly publish a question and ChatGPT’s response, uncensored.
QUESTION 123:
Is crowdsourcing a popular method in which LSP’s vet linguists for translation projects?
Chat GPT’s Response:
As of my last update in January 2022, crowdsourcing was not typically a primary method used by established Language Service Providers (LSPs) for vetting linguists for projects. However, it’s essential to note that the landscape of language services and translation industry practices may have evolved since then.
Crowdsourcing platforms, where tasks are distributed to a large number of contributors or freelancers, are often associated with more ad-hoc or low-budget translation projects rather than the professional services provided by traditional LSPs. These platforms may not always prioritize quality and consistency to the same extent as established LSPs.
Instead, LSPs typically rely on a range of methods to vet linguists for projects, including:
Recruitment: LSPs may actively recruit linguists based on their qualifications, experience, and expertise in specific subject matters or language pairs.
Testing and Qualification: Linguists may be required to undergo rigorous testing or qualification processes to assess their language skills, translation abilities, and familiarity with industry standards and tools.
References and Portfolio: Linguists may be asked to provide references from previous clients or employers and demonstrate their work through portfolios or samples.
Certifications: Some LSPs may prefer or require linguists to hold relevant certifications, such as translation or interpreting certifications from recognized institutions.
Internal Training: LSPs may provide training or orientation to linguists to ensure they understand the company’s processes, quality standards, and client expectations.
While crowdsourcing platforms may offer a vast pool of potential linguists, the quality and reliability of contributors can vary widely. Therefore, for projects requiring high-quality and consistent translations, LSPs often prioritize more controlled and vetted approaches to selecting linguists. However, it’s possible that some LSPs may integrate elements of crowdsourcing into their workflows for specific projects or tasks where scalability and agility are prioritized over strict quality control.
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