Machine translation + post-editing (MTPE)

There is a clear aim when using MTPE: translations should be faster and/or cheaper than a human translation. Depending on the starting point and additional services, cost savings of 10-30% can be made, while time savings of 30-50% can be expected. This is because machine pre-translation only supports the translation step, which is where significant savings can be made. All the associated steps, such as data preparation, quality assurance, an additional revision process, or administrative project steps, including project creation and invoicing, are unchanged in the MTPE process.

At the same time, MTPE at oneword requires no investment on your part. We recommend suitable MT systems that are already in use at our company and can be used for your translations at no extra cost. As we continue to work together, we always keep an eye on how the post-editing process can be continually optimised to reduce costs further.

Neural machine translation (NMT) and Large Language Models (LLM), such as GPT or Llama, deliver impressive results in many languages. The texts sound fluent and coherent and appear correct at first glance. However, no MT or AI system delivers completely error-free translations for professional use, especially for specialised texts. In everyday post-editing work and across all languages, up to 66% of the MT output is often amended. Typical sources of error are in the details: omitted content, lack of technical precision, incorrect terminology, misinterpretation of ambiguities or errors of meaning, inappropriate choice of words or stylistic inconsistencies. Obvious errors, such as grammatical or spelling mistakes, are now the exception, but this means that the machine output is often viewed too positively at first glance and therefore is overestimated.

In most cases, professional post-editing is therefore indispensable for companies and involves far more than simply skimming machine-generated texts. Careful post-processing is essential even for quality assurance and liability alone. The “human in the loop” approach makes the result comparable to a human translation. Human reviews and post-editing are essential for professional communication and professional translations to ensure that the result is correct, complete and appropriate for the target audience.

At oneword, we apply the same high-quality standards to MTPE projects as we do to human translations. Every use of MT or AI begins with a consultation and a comprehensive feasibility analysis. Your expectations and specifications are just as much a part of the process as our many years of know-how and linguistic expertise. Just because MT and AI can make everything much faster, we don’t cut corners when it comes to achieving the perfect translation process!

We support your MTPE process with the following services:

• Defining quality targets and processing guidelines
• Feasibility analysis
• Integrating MT and AI into the existing translation process
• Using leading, data-secure MT and LLM systems
• Certified post-editing processes in accordance with DIN ISO 18587
• Detailed feedback on sources of error, change rates and potential for optimisation

We also offer you supporting processes to get the best out of the machine – from cleaning up language data to linguistic prompt engineering for LLMs. You can find out more here.