There are many online dictionaries and translation tools that are able to take a word in English and translate it into Arabic. But are these online translation services always accurate? How are web companies that run these websites ensuring quality?
It is a classic case of profit over quality. In an effort to make as money much as possible through advertising, companies that host English to Arabic translation websites are often giving out false information. Language is a precious commodity that many take for granted. A word in English may not translate the same way in Arabic. But this does not stop companies that will settle for words and phrases that are 'close enough'.
Human translation services have for years argued that professional linguists are needed to contribute to computer databases frequently because language and meaning are constantly changing. A word that may have been used in Arabic translation 40 years ago may not be used today. Many websites rely on databases that will match up a word with its foreign equivalent. If the exact meaning of a word cannot be found, many sites will recommend other words that are similar, but do not capture the true meaning of a word or phrase. Updating databases is necessary to keeping language translation current and useful.
Online translation should be reserved for formal correspondence, such as a business letter or memo. Because many computers do not know current slang or colloquial terms in everyday speech, translating poetry or a letter from a pen pal will prove much more difficult. A computer can only translate words, not meanings. The subtly of meanings is lost on the computer. This can alter the meaning of an entire document, and what good will it be if the translation is not correct? Debate on this issue continues to rise as more and more people are taking online learning classes. Vocabulary is only one component to learning a language.
Although computerized translation services seem like an easy way to accommodate English to Arabic translation, the reality is that words do not mean much without the meaning they are conveying. If a person has a letter from a friend or a piece of poetry they would like to learn more about, they should have the writings examined and translated by someone familiar with translation services. Until online translators and dictionaries are improved to include meanings as well as words, there will always be mistakes in Arabic translation, as well as with other "hot" languages such as Spanish and Chinese.
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