We are depressed about the state of the translation industry
We never thought we would write those words when talking about our beloved language and translation industry.
Yet lately, we’ve found ourselves increasingly disheartened by the state of our sector.
The translation profession is facing challenges unlike anything we’ve seen before. While technological innovation has brought tremendous opportunities, it has also created a race to the bottom in some corners of the market.
Translation is often invisible until it goes wrong
Looking at the drawing today, I wonder how it would appear if he drew it again. The landscape has certainly changed dramatically. How much of the picture would be positive messaging, and how much would be negative?
Artificial intelligence would almost certainly feature prominently. So would automation, machine translation, large language models, collaboration platforms, and the increasingly global nature of communication.
The tools we use have evolved, and many routine processes have become faster and more efficient than we could have imagined in 2019.
The declining value of expertise
The language and translation industry has been transformed at an astonishing pace. There is no denying that the various AI translation tools available today can deliver impressive results if used by the right professional.
What concerns Synergy the most is the growing narrative that language expertise is no longer needed.
Translation is not simply the conversion of words from one language into another. It requires understanding intent, context, audience, culture, legal implications, brand voice, and industry-specific terminology.
The danger lies in organisations believing they can remove the expertise from the process entirely and still achieve professional-quality outcomes.
Professional translators invest years developing specialist knowledge in legal, medical, technical, financial, and creative fields. They continuously learn, research, and refine their skills. At Synergy, we make it our mission to find the most qualified professionals for every project, ensuring that expertise remains at the heart of every translation we deliver.
Reasons for optimism
Despite our concerns, we are not giving up on this industry. Even with difficulty, we must try to remain positive.
Many organisations are beginning to recognise that effective multilingual communication requires more than technology alone. They understand that translation projects must be handled by experienced professionals who can combine linguistic expertise with the latest tools and technologies.
At the same time, professional translators continue to demonstrate remarkable adaptability. They are embracing innovation while maintaining the quality standards, cultural understanding, and critical thinking that make their work valuable.
Everyone benefits.
A call to raise the standard
Perhaps what concerns us most is the growing acceptance of mediocrity.
The future of translation does not have to be a race to the bottom. It can be a future where technology and human expertise work together to deliver better outcomes than either could achieve alone.
