The Translator and the Current Services of the Internet - Copyright © Anukaisa Alanen 1996.

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4. Discussion

It seems that when talking about the translator and the computer, the Net and telecommunications in general have brought more opportunities and changes to translators' working methods than the machine-translation tools. One can speculate that the Net might become the more or less organised store of information, the brain, for some powerful artificial intelligence engine that could then translate texts in more efficient ways than machines have been able to so far. It is, however, rather difficult to imagine a world where no human translators would be needed, as producing and reading texts is one of the most human things imaginable.

As one of the respondents suggested (as a reply to question 12), an interesting thing to study would be how the Internet and other on-line services have actually changed the working methods of translators. The new office will perhaps not be cluttered with books and papers, as the information changes places in an electronic format. Would this mean that a translator would sit fast in front of his or her workstation and gradually change into a "nerd" with no human connections outside the powerful and addictive Net? It does not seem probable that the Internet could replace conventional libraries altogether in the near future. Besides, most experts, at least for other than computer-related matters, cannot be reached through the networks. Furthermore, there is nothing that can replace the real human connection with all its non-verbal messages, which extend from the raising of an eyebrow to touching and sensing a real presence.

Another respondent hoped that future translators will be taught how to use the Internet professionally. The Internet itself and other computer-related things are undergoing rapid and constant changes. Although the new technologies can offer splendid services, keeping on top of it all can cause too much pressure, compared to the profit involved. Therefore, how one should use the latest technology and survive in the vast and confusing network would be good for present translators, too, to know so that they would not feel that they were becoming past translators.

It remains to be seen how the Internet will change. From a Finn's point of view, it now seems probable that it will become one of the ordinary services that a household or a company can use for business and pleasure. It also seems inevitable that the Net services need powerful organising that will probably lead to commercialisation and fees for users as well as to more advertising. It seems that right now, from a translator's point of view, the Internet is "fine and it's fun but it could be better", as one respondent concluded.


Bibliography

Works Cited


Further Reading


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The Translator and the Current Services of the Internet - Copyright © Anukaisa Alanen 1996.
WWW conversion by Pekka Taskinen.