IELTS Essay # 81 - Nowadays it is possible to use computers and mobile phones for automatic language translation, and there is no need for human translators and interpreters. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

 Essay # 81

Nowadays it is possible to use computers and mobile phones for automatic language translation, and there is no need for human translators and interpreters. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

We are at the stage when our technology is sophisticated enough to even play the role of human translators and interpreters. This may have helped in the fall of the language barrier but I personally believe that human translators hold more significance. This view shall be further elaborated in this essay.

Though a machine translator can be a lot quicker, it cannot convey the specific intention behind the speech in context. For example, something said in sarcasm or in a passive aggressive manner will be literally translated by the machine, keeping the user blissfully unaware of the real intention of the comment. This can lead to serious misunderstandings. Apart from this, body language too is an important factor for translation which the machine of course, won’t be able to decipher.

On a further note, many automated translation apps and softwares rely heavily on internet for functionality, which again prove the need for human translators. For instance, if someone is travelling in some small Spanish town where the network connectivity isn’t that great, he’d be lost if he’d rely on an internet based translator in his phone. Although I’d like to mention that automated translators do increase independency and self-reliance, however with all the flaws in view, this cannot be an always preferred option.

To conclude, I’d disagree with the statement in question saying that human translators and interpreters are still as much needed as their machine counterparts. Machine translation is leaps and bounds faster and more effective, but it still falls short in accuracy, functionality and delivery.

(257 words)