Computer-assisted or Machine Translation
Here is a question from our FAQ:
I have done a computer-assisted translation. Can you just quickly proof-read it for me?
We certainly can proof-read your computer-assisted translation. Whether we can do this “just quickly” is a different matter. Automatic translations are normally very poor and require in-depth proofreading. In some places, sentences or whole paragraphs will have to be translated entirely afresh — a comparison with the original will then be indispensable. This type of translation copyediting is correspondingly time-consuming.
One thing you need to be aware of: only in a minority of cases does automatic translation by computer save you anything, since it entails a level of editing for which we usually charge translation rates. Frequently, you even have to pay more, as a new translation by a professional translator may well be faster and more cost-effective than a painstaking comparison of machine translation with original text.
In any case, we would definitely wish to encourage you to make contact with us and to tell us your query. We will be happy to advise you on the best way to proceed with your translation.