Machine translation has been around for decades, but in recent years it has made a qualitative leap thanks to AI-based language models. Tools like DeepL, ChatGPT or the proprietary engines of major agencies now produce texts that, at first glance, may appear perfectly acceptable. This has changed the way many professional translators work — myself included.
Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE) consists of reviewing and correcting machine-generated text to bring it up to the quality standard expected of a human translation. It is not a matter of skimming and signing off: it is professional work requiring deep knowledge of both languages, the subject matter and the appropriate style.
What are the advantages?
✦ Advantages
- Greater speed on high-volume projects.
- Cost reduction for clients with repetitive or technical texts.
- Terminological consistency when combined with translation memories.
- Frees up time to focus on the most complex or creative passages.
◈ Risks
- The machine makes subtle meaning errors that look correct.
- It loses the register, tone or style of the source text.
- In legal or medical texts, an error can have serious consequences.
- Creates a false sense of security for those who do not master the language.
Why the post-editor is crucial
Post-editing is not proofreading: it means knowing exactly what can go wrong and where to look. A good post-editor is not fooled by the surface fluency of the text. They know the machine can translate an idiomatic expression literally, omit a negation, or subtly shift the scope of a legal clause without the result sounding "wrong" in the target language.
I have been offering this service to some of my clients for several years, always with one condition: the output must meet exactly the same standards as a human translation. I do not charge less for poor-quality post-editing; I charge less when the machine has done its part well and my revision work is lighter. The distinction matters.
My advice to any company looking to incorporate machine translation into their processes: do not cut corners on the post-editor. They are the guarantee that what reaches the end client — or the court, or the medical leaflet — is accurate, precise and in the appropriate register.