| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: My feelings about the future of the language services industry are: Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "My feelings about the future of the language services industry are:".
View the poll results »
| | | | | My feelings haven't changed since July... | Sep 19, 2023 |
I’m optimistic by nature and I'm nearing the end of my career. I have no crystal ball and I’m no good at predictions, but I'm one of those people who always see the glass as half full and I don’t believe things will change dramatically during the remaining of my professional lifetime. If 40 years ago when I started translating someone would speak of computers, internet, CATs, MT, ChatGPT, bots and AI I know I’d say: “Huh, this MUST be science fiction!”. More than never, to survive in... See more I’m optimistic by nature and I'm nearing the end of my career. I have no crystal ball and I’m no good at predictions, but I'm one of those people who always see the glass as half full and I don’t believe things will change dramatically during the remaining of my professional lifetime. If 40 years ago when I started translating someone would speak of computers, internet, CATs, MT, ChatGPT, bots and AI I know I’d say: “Huh, this MUST be science fiction!”. More than never, to survive in this industry translators will need to be knowledgeable, skilled, adaptable, strategic and resilient…
https://www2.proz.com/forum/poll_discussion/363061-poll_my_feelings_about_the_future_of_the_language_services_industry_are.html ▲ Collapse
| | | | Iulia Parvu 
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:15
Member (2022)
English to Romanian
+ ...
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote: I’m optimistic by nature and I'm nearing the end of my career. I have no crystal ball and I’m no good at predictions, but I'm one of those people who always see the glass as half full and I don’t believe things will change dramatically during the remaining of my professional lifetime. If 40 years ago when I started translating someone would speak of computers, internet, CATs, MT, ChatGPT, bots and AI I know I’d say: “Huh, this MUST be science fiction!”. More than never, to survive in this industry translators will need to be knowledgeable, skilled, adaptable, strategic and resilient… https://www2.proz.com/forum/poll_discussion/363061-poll_my_feelings_about_the_future_of_the_language_services_industry_are.html
I have at least 5 (interesting) polls sent for approval and still we're getting the same ones over and over again.
| | | | expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 00:15
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
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Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 02:15
Member
English to Turkish
ChatGPT is the new craze, innit?
| | | | Michael Newton
United States
Local time: 19:15
Japanese to English
+ ...
| language services industry ? | Sep 19, 2023 |
For some time we have been realizing that no one has just one career in their lives. I have been a translator and an equity analyst in Japan and a translator and equity analyst in the US and some time ago joined a hedge fund. I translate Japanese financial documents not into English but into investment decisions. People are learning to be nimble and flexible. There are a number of on-line MBA programs and master's in finance programs for those willing to pivot. Needless to say, it is easier for ... See more For some time we have been realizing that no one has just one career in their lives. I have been a translator and an equity analyst in Japan and a translator and equity analyst in the US and some time ago joined a hedge fund. I translate Japanese financial documents not into English but into investment decisions. People are learning to be nimble and flexible. There are a number of on-line MBA programs and master's in finance programs for those willing to pivot. Needless to say, it is easier for younger people to do this. Translation should be seen as a stepping stone to something greater and more challenging. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 01:15
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
I'm not in a position to know about the future of the language services industry. I don't conduct nor read research about it. In the field I can say that I have never had more work and higher earnings than the past 5 years in an 18-year freelance career. I can't be completely sure but it's very likely that this has only been possible by adapting to a changing translation environment. The ones who refuse to adapt and see their income decrease can continue to complain another 20 years if they have... See more I'm not in a position to know about the future of the language services industry. I don't conduct nor read research about it. In the field I can say that I have never had more work and higher earnings than the past 5 years in an 18-year freelance career. I can't be completely sure but it's very likely that this has only been possible by adapting to a changing translation environment. The ones who refuse to adapt and see their income decrease can continue to complain another 20 years if they have to.
The only thing I know, and have always known, is that there will be a human translation or MTPE industry as long as computers can't think and feel like humans do. End of story. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Dan Lucas
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:15
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
| Lifelong learning | Sep 19, 2023 |
Michael Newton wrote:
For some time we have been realizing that no one has just one career in their lives.
I agree with the broad thrust of your argument, which is not surprising given that (if you count a short-lived foray into accounting) I'm on my third career. However, What with population decline and higher retirement ages, I think it's becoming inevitable for most people, at least those not working in public-sector roles with very generous pensions. I don't think most working individuals do yet realise that the days of one career are over.
Hopefully this trend will also result in less ageism and make it progressively easier for older workers to compete on a level playing field with their younger peers.
I have been a translator and an equity analyst in Japan
Me too. Well, an analyst, anyway. The translation was always incidental.
I translate Japanese financial documents not into English but into investment decisions.
Even twenty years ago I would have said that a knowledge of Japanese is crucial in that field, but today (particularly with the shift in emphasis away from in-person shuzai) I would argue that all the material public information is available in English almost immediately. I personally no longer believe that linguistic ability is a significant edge for an analyst, but if somebody is willing to pay you for that ability then obviously others disagree with me, and that's great.
some time ago joined a hedge fund.
Glad to hear that. Hope it's going well. Basically WFH?
There are a number of on-line MBA programs and master's in finance programs for those willing to pivot.
Absolutely. I would go further and say there is structured education available online (and inexpensively) for almost any skill, from Coursera to Udemy. It's an explosion of information unprecedented in human history and most people seem to lack the curiosity and willpower to make good use of it.
Translation should be seen as a stepping stone to something greater and more challenging.
You won't be shocked to learn that I disagree, having moved in the opposite direction. I think successful translators should be seen as people with a number of transferable skills, and that they should look around to find areas in which those skills might be profitably applied.
Unfortunately, translation is already quite a challenging industry and these forums provide ample evidence that not every translator is successful. If you are successful you're probably already doing okay financially.
Maybe the situation will change, but I haven't yet spotted anything that offers similar levels of remuneration to what I'm doing now that doesn't also require me to assume considerably greater stress (perhaps acceptable), and to uproot my family in order to live somewhere much less safe and pleasant (not acceptable).
So this whole career change thing is complicated. But we all - particularly, as you say, in an era of multiple careers - need a Plan B. And maybe a Plan C.
Dan
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| Black and rosy | Sep 19, 2023 |
Translators have different roles - many won't survive, some will, so I'm very pessimistic for some, and yet pretty optimistic for others. To simplify:
1) If I buy an electronic device and the instruction manual is badly translated, I'll keep trying to understand it until I get the thing to work. In most cases, I won't complain to the manufacturer, who already has my money in their pocket. They probably know this and will tend to turn to a free or almost free translation service. Th... See more Translators have different roles - many won't survive, some will, so I'm very pessimistic for some, and yet pretty optimistic for others. To simplify:
1) If I buy an electronic device and the instruction manual is badly translated, I'll keep trying to understand it until I get the thing to work. In most cases, I won't complain to the manufacturer, who already has my money in their pocket. They probably know this and will tend to turn to a free or almost free translation service. That part of the translation market has mainly been lost and, I believe, will not be particularly missed by most customers.
2) If I buy a novel and it's written badly, I'll probably put it down and make a note not to read other books by the same author, publisher or (since I'm a translator) translator. That's not good for the publisher, so they'll need to ensure at least a minimum of quality. A (generally low-paid) human may well be able to continue providing the service for some time to come.
3) I read an advertisement for a product or service that I may or may not be looking for: if the text is generated by ChatGPT, it will probably have less chance of convincing me than some really good copy written (or, in this case, translated) by a real expert. Some providers do indeed use machines to do the job but those who really understand how these things work will turn to increasingly rare human translators who will be (and are) able to charge huge amounts for their work. This part of the market looks pretty rosy to me. Hard to get into, very niche, but rosy.
And then, of course, there's everything in between - from restaurant menus to instructions for fighter jets, or whatever - but that will be covered by a mixture of MT, AI and, to an increasingly lesser extent, human brainpower. ▲ Collapse
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It can be me, but isn't 'My feelings about the future of the language service industry' not a kind of metaphore for 'Is our profession dead?'
In short, are we restarting the same thread under a different title? Looks like all those discussions about GPT. Please let us avoid that.
[Edited at 2023-09-19 19:28 GMT]
[Edited at 2023-09-20 12:23 GMT]
| | | | Iman Tahanan
Local time: 03:15
English to Persian (Farsi)
+ ...
The AI threat is soooo real
| | | | Dan Lucas
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:15
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
| Well of course we are | Sep 19, 2023 |
Robert Rietvelt wrote:
In short, are we restarting the same thread under a different title?
There has only been one thread on here for several years now Robert, surely you must have noticed?
"The sky is falling!"
"No it's not!"
"Yes it is!
"Isn't!"
"Is!"
And so on, ad infinitum.
Dan
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| Recycling the recycled! | Sep 19, 2023 |
Robert Rietvelt wrote:
It can be me, but isn't 'My feelings about the future of the language service industry' not a kind of metaphore for 'Is our profession dead?'
In short, are we restarting the same thread under a different title? Looks like all the discussions about GPT. Please let us avoid that.
[Edited at 2023-09-19 19:28 GMT]
| | | | Min Xuanping
China
Local time: 07:15
Member
English to Chinese
+ ...
| Well settled in my life, no mortage no worries. | Sep 20, 2023 |
I do not care if translation can bring me a lot of money or not. I just love this job and the lifestyle. Life is simple when you have little desire. You will enjoy the peace and freedom a simple life could bring you. As long as I can survive on this job, that is enough.
| | | | expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 00:15
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| It's becoming depressing | Sep 20, 2023 |
As well as totally agreeing with Robert, I don't even know why this poll was sent.
Feelings about the future of translation can be seen in the daily negative comments.
So whoever sent the poll can read what is being written here, and draw his/her own conclusions.
I'm sure there are polls suggested by colleagues that are much more interesting and important to debate than this one.
The atmosphere around here has been so severe and unhealthy lately that the best thing to do... See more As well as totally agreeing with Robert, I don't even know why this poll was sent.
Feelings about the future of translation can be seen in the daily negative comments.
So whoever sent the poll can read what is being written here, and draw his/her own conclusions.
I'm sure there are polls suggested by colleagues that are much more interesting and important to debate than this one.
The atmosphere around here has been so severe and unhealthy lately that the best thing to do is either ignore it or stop participating in the forums. I'm tempted to choose the latter.
It's becoming depressing! ▲ Collapse
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