Why Human Translation

With free machine translators like Google Translate readily available, one may wonder why we still need human translators. While I recognize the significant breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in recent decades, I firmly believe that translation is one of the few realms AI can never truly replace.

Language is inherently human and spiritual, not mechanical. Just as no fixed strategy can resolve all real-life situations, no rigid formula can guarantee accurate translation. Machine translators, by nature, lack the ability to perceive the cultural and spiritual nuances in which language is embedded. They do not read between the lines, nor do they grasp tone, intent, or historical resonance. As such, they cannot rival the depth or quality of a trained human translator.

Queen Elizabeth I once wrote, “As an immortal soul is superior to a mortal body, so whoever is wise judges things done by the soul more to be esteemed and worthy of greater praise than any act of the body.” This is profoundly true. The soul is the highest faculty we possess — and translation, when done right, is a soul-driven act. It demands empathy, insight, discernment, and cultural fluency — all of which remain beyond the reach of algorithms.

When it comes to translating official documents or literary works of any kind, certified professional human translators are, and must remain, the only trusted choice.

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