Can copywriters act as online translators?

What are online translators and how do they work?

Their development is noticeable year by year, thanks to which they provide more and more support for network users. What it comes from?

The basis of the operation of online translators is the so-called machine translation, which takes place on the basis of previously processed texts. Effect? The more sentences and phrases entered by users, the more effectively the program recognizes them and the higher the quality of the translation.

Of course, it is worth remembering that online translators work best with simple phrases. Complicated, multiple complex sentences, as well as phraseological associations or industry language usually exceed their capabilities, resulting in errors in translation.

Can online translators be helpful in the work of a copywriter?

First of all, they do not recognize idiomatic expressions that cannot be literally translated into another language. An example here may be the American phrase “bite the bullet,” which doesn’t translate well into other languages when transliterated word for word. Using such an expression to create an English-language text is not the best idea.

Online translators are also unable to decipher the context of a sentence and do not recognize differences between personal pronouns. Inaccurate translations and typographical or punctuation errors are also a problem. Therefore, before copying a text from a translator, it is always worth reading it carefully and making appropriate corrections.

So if you work as a copywriter, you should use online translators only to understand the meaning of foreign language content and extract individual information from it. They can be extremely helpful when searching foreign websites that are a source of additional knowledge that is not available on English speaking sites.

The online translator can also act as a dictionary, as it is perfect for translating single words and short phrases.

Which online translators are the best?

The most popular online translator is undoubtedly the free Google Translate tool, which works based on machine learning mechanisms. Thanks to this, it ensures greater accuracy of translations year after year. Its advantage is also the scope – it enables translation into over 100 languages.

Are there alternatives to Google Translate? Of course, and those worth recommending include:

• ImTranslator – is an add-on for web browsers that supports over 90 languages ​​and allows you to translate not only individual words or sentences, but also entire texts and websites;
• DeepL Translator – is an online translator based on machine translation technology, which allows you to translate entire websites and files, and thanks to the translation rating system, it is constantly improved;
• Translatedict – is a tool that stands out for its voice translation and text-to-speech conversion (allows you to download audio in different languages);
• Collins Dictionary Translator – is an extensive platform that allows you not only to translate, but also to search for entries in free dictionaries.

All online translators available above are available for free. There are also paid programs that sometimes show greater accuracy in translation. An example of such a tool is Babylon Translator, which has many additional functions, such as automatic translation of e-mail messages or enriching translations based on information available in Wikipedia.

Regardless of which online translator you choose, use it only as support in your daily work. Even the most expensive program, will not provide you with a perfect translation!