How can translators benefit from chatGPT?

 Together is Better, Right?

Generally speaking, I believe it is, although there are times when being alone isn't so bad either :) but collaboration, if done right, is effective. There's a small book by Simon Sinek that's not very popular, but if you have the chance, read it. Simon has done more things besides his great book and his wonderful TED talk, *Start With Why*, such as this little book that talks about the power of doing things together… and that, mixed with a question I recently had in a masterclass about career development and AI, is the central theme of my post this week. The question was,

How can we translators benefit from AI?

 The AI Debate

Throughout 2023, the debate was more about how AI will crush translators and less about how translators can leverage AI to produce better results. ChatGPT is a very good tool, but it needs guidance; if guided well, it produces extraordinary results; on its own, it doesn't do much, so yes, referring to that little book by Simon together is better….. how can we go together? And being more specific, how can we translators benefit from the use of LLMs?

 Translators and AI: A Partnership

Below is a list of ideas, areas in which a translator can rely to be more efficient in their day-to-day tasks:

1. **Editing and Post-Editing Support**:

   Translators can input their translated text into ChatGPT, which can then analyze the text for grammatical errors, suggest alternative phrasings, and offer improvements to enhance clarity and accuracy.

 2. **Glossary Management**:

   When translators encounter unfamiliar terms during the translation process, they can input these terms into ChatGPT to receive suggestions for translations based on context, or explanations to help them make informed decisions about the most suitable translation to include in their glossary.

 3. **Cultural Insights and Audits**:

   By inputting specific cultural phrases, customs, or taboos, translators can ask ChatGPT to provide background information or insights relevant to the target region, ensuring that their translations are culturally sensitive and appropriate. This is particularly helpful for culturalization audits, i.e., what to avoid per market…

 4. **Readability Assessment**:

  Translators can input their translated content into ChatGPT to evaluate factors such as sentence length, vocabulary complexity, and overall coherence, helping them gauge the readability and comprehension level of the target audience.

 5. **Style Guide Adherence**:

 ChatGPT can compare translated text against established style guides or brand guidelines, providing suggestions to ensure consistency in writing style, tone, and formatting across different pieces of content.

6. **Managing Character Limits in Localization**:

 If you are a translator localizing for a mobile device, you know how difficult it is to stick to the limits given with each translation. Screens are so small, and localized text so long!  ChatGPT can be very helpful in assisting you in shortening text to fit in the limits as translators can input their translated text into ChatGPT, which can then suggest strategies for condensing the text while preserving its meaning and coherence, ensuring that it fits within character limits without sacrificing clarity or accuracy.

 7. **Searching for Synonyms**:

 Translators can input words or phrases into ChatGPT to receive suggestions for synonyms or alternative expressions, enriching the vocabulary and enhancing the variety and clarity of the translated content. This is really helpful to reach a nice language customer experience as variety helps to engage users better, and that variety can be achieved with synonyms.

 8. **Switching Between Different Styles**:

Translators can input their text into ChatGPT and specify the desired style, such as formal or informal, and ChatGPT can provide suggestions for adapting the language and tone accordingly, ensuring consistency and appropriateness for the intended audience or context.

 Prompts for ChatGPT

Here are some specific prompts that translators can use when working with ChatGPT to enhance their translation process:

• Editing and Post-Editing Support:

  'Can you review this translated text and suggest any grammatical errors or improvements for clarity?'

  'I've translated this passage, could you provide alternative phrasings to enhance its accuracy and readability?'

  'Please help refine this translated content for better clarity and coherence.'

• Glossary Management:

• 'I've encountered a new term ("[term]") in my translation. Can you suggest possible translations based on context?'

• 'Could you explain the meaning of this term ("[term]") to help me decide its best translation for my glossary?'

• 'Provide suggestions for incorporating this new term into my glossary in a way that aligns with its context.'

• Cultural Insights and Audits:

• 'What are some cultural considerations I should be aware of when translating this content for [specific region]?'

• 'Can you provide background information on cultural practices or taboos relevant to this target audience?'

• 'Help me understand any cultural nuances or sensitivities that might impact my translation for this region.'

• Terminology Research:

• 'I need clarification on this technical term ("[term]"). Can you provide its definition, examples, and usage contexts?'

• 'What are some alternative translations for this specialized terminology?'

• 'Assist me in selecting the most contextually appropriate translation for this technical term.'

• Readability Assessment:

• 'Evaluate this translated content for readability. Are there any improvements needed to enhance comprehension?'

• 'Assess the readability of this text in terms of sentence length, vocabulary complexity, and overall coherence.'

• 'Provide insights on how to make this translated content more reader-friendly and engaging.'

• Style Guide Adherence:

• 'Check this translated text against our style guide. Are there any deviations that need to be addressed?'

• 'Ensure consistency in writing style, tone, and formatting across these translated pieces of content.'

• 'Offer suggestions to align this translation with our established brand guidelines.'

• Managing Character Limits in Localization:

• 'Help me shorten this translated text to fit within character limits without losing its meaning or coherence.'

• 'Suggest strategies for condensing this content to meet the specified character limits.'

• 'Assist in adjusting the translated text to ensure it fits within the character restrictions provided for localization.'

• Searching for Synonyms:

• 'Provide synonyms or alternative expressions for this word or phrase to enrich the vocabulary of the translation.'

• 'Help me find variations of this term to enhance the variety and clarity of the translated content.'

• 'Assist in diversifying the language used in this translation by suggesting synonyms or alternative phrasings.'

• Switching Between Different Styles:

• 'I need to adapt this content to a more formal/informal style. Can you provide suggestions for adjusting the language and tone accordingly?'

• 'Help me switch between different writing styles for this content, such as from formal to casual.'

• 'Provide guidance on how to adjust the language and tone of this text to better suit the intended audience or context.'

 In Summary

 In conclusion, leveraging ChatGPT as a tool can significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of translators' work. By collaborating with ChatGPT, translators can obtain immediate assistance with linguistic tasks, ranging from vocabulary expansion to error checking, transforming ChatGPT from a perceived competitor into a valuable ally. This partnership can lead to improved outcomes and a smoother, more efficient translation process, supporting the idea that together, indeed, is better.