Abstract: Machine translation (MT) has completely changed the translation industry and presented both opportunities and difficulties for human translators. This study attempts to analyze the effects of machine translation on human translators, with a particular emphasis on how the job of human translators is evolving, the standard of texts produced by the technology, and the implications for translators’ careers. This study investigates the experiences and viewpoints of human translators in the era of machine translation using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including professional translator interviews and comparative analysis of translated texts. The study aims to pinpoint the advantages and drawbacks of machine translation, investigate how it affects the translation procedure, and assess how it alters the skill set needed by human translators.
Key words: Machine translation technology (MT), artificial intelligence (AI), neural machine translation(NMT), collaborate, post-editors, language skills, language innovation.
The rise of machine translation
Advances in artificial intelligence and neural network models are mostly to blame for the significant growth of machine translation in recent years. Deep learning approaches have shown to significantly increase the translation quality of neural machine translation (NMT) systems in particular. These computers can produce translations with astounding accuracy and fluency by learning from enormous amounts of multilingual data.
Improved efficiency and productivity
Improved productivity and efficiency are two of machine translation’s most obvious effects on human translators. Large volumes of text can be processed quickly by MT systems, which then provide preliminary translations that human translators can utilize as a base. Because of the time and effort savings, human translators can concentrate on more challenging and imaginative areas of their profession. Additionally, machine translation systems can be combined with translation memories and glossaries to create a hybrid method called computer-assisted translation (CAT). The advantages of machine translation are utilized by CAT technologies, but human translators are still used to revise and polish the results. This combination enhances uniformity between translations, increases productivity, and streamlines the translation process.
Enhanced language access
The ability to translate text between a variety of languages is another key benefit of machine translation. This has made it possible for human translators to work on a variety of projects and opened up new markets. Machine translation empowers translators to handle languages they might not be native speakers of, opening doors for them to work on projects that were previously out of reach.
Quality concerns and the Human touch
Despite improvements in machine translation, quality problems persist. Particularly in specialist fields or creative literature, machine translation systems frequently have trouble faithfully reproducing the nuances and intricacies of language. Human translators have the linguistic and cultural knowledge required to provide accurate translations that are suitable for their context, guaranteeing that the original text’s content and intent are not altered.
Additionally essential to the process of localizing content for certain target groups are human translators. Since they are familiar with the cultural quirks and nuances of the target language, they can ensure that translations are tailored to appeal to the target audience. Even if machine translation is getting better, it still falls short in this regard and could result in translations that lack cultural context or the right tone.
Professional evolution and adaptation
Human translators are figuring out methods to collaborate and adapt with machine translation systems rather than being displaced by them. As post-editors, many translators are now examining and improving translations produced by machines in order to improve quality. With this strategy, translators can take advantage of machine translation’s advantages while still using their language skills.
Additionally, translators are concentrating on specialized fields where their abilities are essential. Machine translation cannot replace the level of cultural background knowledge and language innovation required for services like transcreation, which entails modifying information for commercial and artistic objectives.
In order to produce high-quality translations, human translators are establishing themselves as authorities in these particular sectors. They collaborate with machine translation tools.
Conclusion
There is no denying that machine translation has an impact on human translators. Although AI has unquestionably resulted in considerable improvements in terms of productivity and linguistic accessibility, questions about quality and the requirement for human expertise continue. In order to guarantee accurate, culturally appropriate, and contextually suitable translations, human translators continue to be extremely important. Translators can offer high-quality translations that satisfy the changing requirements of a globalized world by embracing machine translation technologies and modifying their roles.
References:
1. Myle Ott, Michael Auli, David Grangier, Marc’Aurelio Ranzato, “Analyzing Uncertainly in Neural Machine Translation”, 35th International Conference on machine Learning, 3956-3965, 2018
2. Masaru Yamada, “The impact of Google neural machine translation on post-editing by student translators”, the journal of specialized Translation 31 (1), 87-106, 2019
3. Stephen Doherty, “Investigating the effects of controlled language on the reading and comprehension of machine translated text: A mixed-methods approach”, Dublin City University, 2012
4. Maja Popovic, “On the differences between human translators”, 22nd annual conference of the European association for machine translation, 365-374, 2020
5. Fabio Alves, Arlene Koglin, Bartolome Mesa-Lao, Mercedes Garcia Martinez, Norma B de Lima, “Analyzing the impact of interactive machine translation on post-editing effort”, new directions in empirical translation process research: exploring the CRITT TPR-DB, 77-94, 2016
6. Michael Carl, Silke Gutermuth, Silvia Hansen-Schirra, “Post-editing machine translation”, Psycholinguistic and cognitive inquiries into translation and interpreting 115, 145, 2015
7. Lynne Bowker, Jairo Buitrago Ciro, “Investigating the usefulness of machine translation for newcomers at the public library”, Translation and Interpreting Studies. The Journal of the American Translation and Interpreting Studies Association 10 (2), 165-186, 2015
Saidabonu Abdumalikova Khayrulla kizi was born on December 4, 2004, in Angren, Tashkent region. She earned a gold medal and graduated from high school with honors. She was granted admission to Tashkent State University of Uzbek Language and Literature in 2022.
She is a holder of a TEFL certificate. She participates actively in the “Juntos por las Letras” Working Group of International Writers, is an international member of the “Creativity Forum for Culture, Arts and Peace” in Egypt, and is an honorary member of the “Iqra Foundation” in Pakistan. Currently she is a student of Angren University.
The Nose
My nose has started to lean to the left.
It happens when you get old.
You’d like to stay on the straight old road
But you get old and lean to the left.
The path you’re on, it starts out straight.
To love, to truth, to fame.
Then the nose goes off on its own, on its own
And you circle back round to the grave.
FROM THE HEART OF A HOARDER
Stuff overflows the house –
to the disinterest onlooker, it is the house –
you may be able to live with the barest
minimum of items –
but I'm committed to purchases,
storing objects in previous empty places -
you are looking at a lifetime –
you can't say that in your house –
come inside, if you can find the space –
I will point to you the boy, the man
I am now, and everything in between –
wherever I live,
a museum wraps around me like a cloak –
every book, every toy,
every photograph, every piece of music -
I can show you my life history
in nothing but spoons –
my most cherished secrets in a filing cabinet –
interested in the real me?
come along - a sated closet awaits –
I was married once –
"it's either all this crap or me," she said –
take a good look - you'll find
report cards, bank statements,
comics, newspapers, razor blades,
ceramic horses, tin soldiers, baseball cards,
but ultimatums – nada.
TO MAKE THIS WORK
I have no wings,
no gills –
can’t fly,
can’t live under water.
But I can
occupy a parlor chair,
put my feet up on an ottoman,
drink beer, munch chips,
and stare at football games
on a flat-screen television.
You’d be surprised
at what can constitute a pet.
THE DAY BY ROTE
The day glows yellow
in the clock radio face.
The day puts the kettle on
for coffee.
The day shaves the lower
half of my face.
The day dresses me
in what won’t embarrass
either of us
in the brightest of its light.
The day exits the house,
gripping my hand.
The day starts the car.
I grip the wheel
but the day is in the driver’s seat.
WHY I SAID “NO”
There’s no such thing as an innocent family picnic.
The food aims right for my craw.
The alcohol comes on like a compress.
Open the old hurts. Cut through the insincere smiles.
It takes more than courage to take the hand of brothers.
To eat with them
To sit between those great boulders
and not call them bastards.
You urge me to set aside my differences
for the afternoon.
Sure, like green, given the occasion,
can convince itself that it’s really orange.
It’s okay for you. You’re only a family member
courtesy of the diamond on your finger.
My brothers and I drown in the same blood.
In my dream, I crash the event in my car.
In one great sweep, down goes the grill, the hotdogs,
the glowing coals, the ash.
No my dear, pretending I’m someone else won’t wash.
Won’t wash the words. Won’t wash the deed.
And if you think there’ll be some kneeling involved,
a little begging for forgiveness,
you’ve been watching the wrong drama.
The wounds cut deep.
The blades are still in me, still jiggling about,
in search of a more tender spot.
There’s no shared memories
to flutter a cooling breeze.
No ray of sunlight in a web of darkness.
No natural bond that will pull us all into line.
Just baggage. Just pain.
For me, one family ends here.
Only you and I can have a future.
EMMA REMEMBERS THE MAN OF THE HOUSE
He was Seagram 7 man.
He was Budweiser man.
Much of her childhood
was the stink of his breath.
But she loved him -
even when he drove that Chrysler
like a crazed demon,
with her bouncing in the backseat;
even when his slippery grip
once dropped her to the floor.
And he was rough hands man.
He was chest scar man.
Much of her childhood
was him up on a roof somewhere,
in searing sun,
hammering in tiles
or repairing chimneys.
High atop a house,
he was a god.
Then after work,
straight to the bar,
he would stumble home as the devil.
He was holy man.
He was nasty man.
But she loved him –
when he tore her heart out,
it refused to tear.
John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident, recently published in New World Writing, California Quarterly and Lost Pilots. Latest books, ”Between Two Fires”, “Covert” and “Memory Outside The Head” are available through Amazon. Work upcoming in Isotrope Literary Journal, Seventh Quarry, La Presa and Doubly Mad.
Humanity is created in such a way that it is natural that the surrounding world, society, and various situations in it are directed towards the good side for someone and the bad side for someone else. At the same time, people cannot always have a positive approach to reality, they cannot always face their surroundings in a happy state. On the way of life, you will be hit by various shocks, bumpy roads, sometimes even stones under your feet.
We call various problems the greatest danger, from our own personal situations to relationships about the good and bad days of others, but the problem that bothers me is the most disgusting qualities in people around us: greed, envy, arrogance, etc.
The reason I think like this is that in the world I live in, thank God, there are no external threats, but the situations that I feel worried about are various injustices and lack of justice. Humans are the cause of this. As I mentioned, it is the fact that the worst vices of a person are openly scattered around him. The reasons for this are weddings, differences in luxuries, careerists who put their loved ones in difficult situations by striving for a position, envious people who do all kinds of evil without seeing someone’s personal development. Traitors of the religion and the nation, who went so far as to sell their own religion.
If in my world those same people are passing on their secrets to each other, I have nothing more to worry about.
Just as good and bad days happen to people equally, luck and bad luck days equally. We don’t always eat cream, sometimes we have to bite into hard bread. However, it is the wisest choice to try to reach a bright destination through honest risk-taking and a pure heart, without looking at other people’s happiness and wealth, hoping that I will get luck and happiness sooner.
After all, there are two worlds of joy for people who leave a good mark under a good name.
The rapidly growing world energy use has already raised concerns over supply difficulties, exhaustion of energy resources and heavy environmental impacts (ozone layer depletion, global warming, climate change, etc.). The global contribution from buildings towards energy consumption, both residential and commercial, has steadily increased reaching figures between 20 and 40% in developed countries, and has exceeded the other major sectors: industrial and transportation.
Growth in population, increasing demand for building services and comfort levels, together with the rise in time spent inside buildings, assure the upward trend in energy demand will continue in the future. For this reason, energy efficiency in buildings is today a prime objective for energy policy at regional, national and international levels. Among building services, the growth in HVAC systems energy use is particularly significant (50% of building consumption and 20% of total consumption in the USA). This paper analyzes available information concerning energy consumption in buildings, and particularly related to HVAC systems.
Many questions arise: Is the necessary information available? Which are the main building types? What end-uses should be considered in the breakdown?
Comparisons between different countries are presented specially for commercial buildings. The case of offices is analyzed in deeper detail.
Keywords
Building energy use, HVAC consumption, Air conditioning consumption.
1. World energy use
The rapidly growing world energy use has already raised concerns over supply difficulties, exhaustion of energy resources and heavy environmental impacts (ozone layer depletion, global warming, climate change, etc). The International Energy Agency has gathered frightening data on energy consumption trends. During the last two decades (1984-2004) primary energy has grown by 49% and CO2 emissions by 43%, with an average annual increase of 2% and 1.8% respectively (Figure 1).
Current predictions show that this growing trend will continue. Energy use by nations with emerging economies (Southeast Asia, Middle East, South America and Africa) will grow at an average annual rate of 3.2% and will exceed by 2020 that for the developed countries (North America, Western Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand) at an average growing rate of 1.1% (Figure 2). The case of China is striking, taking only 20 years to double its energy consumption at an average growing rate of 3.7%.
Interesting consequences can be obtained from the analysis of the trend of main world energy indicators [1] between 1973 and 2004 (Table 1): (1) the rate of population growth is well below the GDP, resulting in a considerable rise of per capita personal income and global wealth, (2) primary energy consumption is growing at a higher rate than population, leading to the increase of its per capita value on 15.7% over the last 30 years,
(3) CO2 emissions have grown at a lower rate than energy consumption showing a 5% increase during this period, (4) electrical energy consumption has drastically risen (over two and a half times) leading to a percentage increase in final energy consumption (18% in 2004),
(5) efficiency in exploiting energy resources, shown as the relation between final and primary energy, has declined by 7 percentage points, especially due to soaring electrical consumption, and (6) final and primary energy intensities have dropped because of the higher rate of growth of the GDP over the energy consumption increasing ratio, resulting in an overall improvement of the global energy efficiency.
These figures confirm the relationship linking energy consumption with economic development and population growth, and question global policy attempts to invert this trend by increasing energy efficiency (including renewable and green technologies).
Globalization, improvement of living conditions in emerging regions and the development of communication networks, promote developed nations’ life style and raise energy needs to consumption patterns that, without doubt, will exhaust fossil fuels and will produce a serious environmental impact. In this sense, current energy and socio-economic systems are definitively unsustainable.
2. Energy consumption in buildings
Final energy consumption is usually shown split into three main sectors: industry, transport and ‘other’, including in the last-named, agriculture, service sector and residential. This makes it considerably difficult to gather information about building energy consumption. For example, energy consumption in buildings other than dwellings constitutes a fraction of the services shared within the ‘other’ key sector.
Considering its overall significance in developed countries (buildings account for a 20 to 40% of the total final energy consumption), we believe it should be accounted for independently and become the third main sector, broken down, at least, for domestic and non-domestic buildings.
Growth in population, enhancement of building services and comfort levels, together with the rise in time spent inside buildings, have raised building energy consumption to the levels of transport and industry (Table 2). Especially significant is the reduction of the ratio of industry (9 points) and the expansion of ‘other’ (6 points) due to buildings.
The term “other sectors” is ambiguous and produces great confusion. Many international, national and regional sources, include different end uses within this concept, which makes any sort of comparison difficult. Looking to the evolution (Figure 3) and importance (Table 3) of building energy consumption, we conclude:
(1) In the UK building energy consumption has increased at a rate of 0.5% per annum, which is slightly below the European figure of 1.5%. In contrast building energy consumption in Spain is increasing at a rate of 4.2% per annum, well above both the European and the North American (1.9%) rate. Reasons can be found in the economic growth, expansion of the building sector and the spread of building services, especially Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems.
(2) In 2004, building consumption in the EU was 37% of final energy, bigger than industry (28%) and transport (32%). In the UK, the proportion of energy use in building (39%) is slightly above the European figure. This is in part due to the shift away from heavy industry towards service sector activities. In contrast the figure for Spanish buildings is only 23%, 14 points below Europe, and expected to rise strongly as economic growth lead to convergence with the European average.
The service sector, which covers all commercial and public buildings, includes many types of buildings (schools, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, museums…) with a wide variety of uses and energy services (HVAC, domestic hot water (DHW), lighting, refrigeration, food preparation, etc.). Growth both economical and in population, increases the demand of services (health, education, culture, leisure, etc) and the energy consumption. In USA, energy consumption in the service sector has expanded from 11 to 18% from the 1950s. In the UK, service energy use in 2004 accounted for around 12% of all final energy use, similar to the EU average (11%).
By contrast the Spanish figure was only 8% but it is reporting massive increases and has been multiplied by 2.5 between 1980 and 2000.
In the residential sector, size and location are key factors for energy consumption. Small flats need less energy as there is less conditioned and transfer area, and also less occupation. The amount and type of energy used in dwellings are mainly related to weather, architectural design, energy systems and economic level of the occupants. By and large, dwellings in developed countries use more energy than those in emerging economies and it is expected to continue growing due to the installation of new appliances (air conditioners, computers, etc). In USA, dwellings consume 22% of the total final energy use, compared with 26% in the EU. The UK figure is 29%, well above the Spanish 15% mainly due to a more severe climate and building type (predominance of independent houses over blocks).
The EIA, in its International Energy Outlook [2], analyses and forecasts future trends in building energy consumption (Figure 4). Energy use in the built environment will grow by 34% in the next 20 years, at an average rate of 1.5%. In 2030, consumption attributed to dwellings and the non-domestic sectors will be 67% and 33% respectively (approximately). Spread in Southeast Asian, and therefore, the growth of construction will boost energy demand on the residential sector. Forecasts predict that both developed and non-developed economies will be balanced in the use of energy in dwellings by 2010. Economic, trading and population growth in emerging economies will intensify needs for education, health and other services, together with the consequential energy consumption. It is expected that energy consumption in the service sector in non-developed countries will be doubled in the next 25 years, with an annual average growth rate of 2.8%.
3. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
The proliferation of energy consumption and CO2 emissions in the built environment has made energy efficiency and savings strategies a priority objective for energy policies in most countries. A clear example is the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) [3]. Especially important has been the intensification of energy consumption in HVAC systems, which has now become almost essential in parallel to the spread in the demand for thermal comfort, considered a luxury not long ago. It is the largest energy end use both in the residential and non-residential sector, comprising heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
Its predominance is obvious when it is compared with other end uses. For dwellings (Table 4) it represents about half the energy consumption more than doubling that for DHW. For non domestic buildings, IDAE [4] estimates HVAC energy consumption to be around 48%, still lower than the 57% in the USA, and similar to figures from other sources [5]. At the European level, the weight of HVAC is unknown; however, many sources show a significant increase in the use of air conditioning, especially in Southern countries (Spain and Italy accounts for more than 50% of the European market), creating serious supply difficulties during peak load periods.
In Europe, data produced by the administration at national, regional or local levels is insufficient to efficiently plan future energy policies for buildings and to coordinate measures to address each of the end uses. Analysis by sectors, as those produced by the EIA for residential [6] and commercial buildings [7] should be funded by governments, so that a comprehensive database of the building stock (type, area, location, age…) and energy parameters (consumption, expenditures, fuels, end uses…) can be the basis for future planning.
By and large, HVAC consumption in developed countries accounts for half the energy use in buildings and one fifth of the total national energy use. Moreover, predictions indicate a massive growth in energy consumption and conditioned area in the EU [9] during the next 15 years, increasing approximately in 50%.
4. Non-domestic buildings
In non-domestic buildings, the type of use and activities make a huge impact on the quality and quantity of energy services needed. However, few sources offer data by typology and there is not consensus on a universal classification, which makes the analysis extremely difficult. After revising several sources, some general conclusions may be reached:
(1) In the UK energy consumption in this sector has stabilised somewhat in recent years, with increases in floor area and increased servicing levels being offset by increases in efficiency. Across the rest of Europe energy consumption in the commercial sector grows at a higher rate than other sectors due predominantly to the expansion of HVAC systems in new buildings [10]. In the UK new build rates in the service sector are typically around 2%, whilst in Spain the average annual rate of growth from 2000 is 6.1%, and forecasts show that this will continue increasing. In 2003, this sector was accounting for 12% of the total energy consumption compared to USA (18%) and equal to EU (11%). Energy policies have focused on the residential and industrial sectors and have tended to overlook the service sector, despite its highest growing rate.
(2) Office and retail are the most energy intensive typologies typically accounting for over 50% of the total energy consumption for non-domestic buildings. Hotels and restaurants, hospitals and schools follow. (Table 5)
(3) HVAC is the main end use with a weight close to 50%, lighting follows with 15% and appliances with 10%. Building type is critical in how energy end uses are distributed (Figure 5) and in their energy intensity (Table 6). This makes it essential to develop independent studies by building types.
5. Office Buildings
Within the commercial sector, office buildings are, together with retail, those with the biggest consumption and CO2 emissions. In USA offices account for 17% of total non domestic area and about 18% of the energy use, equivalent to a 3.2% of the total consumption. In Spain, they account for a third of the commercial sector energy consumption and almost 2.7% of total energy consumed and in the UK for 17% of energy consumption and 2% of total energy use. Therefore, it is advisable to start the commercial analysis with office buildings. Other reasons, supporting energy surveys for this typology are:
(1) The substantial increase of total built area of office buildings due to the economical prosperity with many new business developments in mayor city outskirts [11]. During 1990-2000, 9.3 Mm² were built in Spain, with no reliable information on the total built area. In USA, per capita area is about 4 m², well above the European figure of 2 m²/per.
In the UK the total floor area of offices has increased by around 4% between 2000 and 2005.
(2) The amount of artificial lighting required, IT equipment use and air conditioned area have steadily increased. In Spain, more than 90% of companies use IT equipment and virtually all new offices are conditioned. Even in mild weather as in the UK more than half of new offices are conditioned.
(3) It is a typology quite uniform across the building stock, both in envelope and building services, with three key energy end uses, HVAC, lighting and appliances, adding up together to about 85% of the total.
6. Conclusions
Energy consumption of buildings in developed countries comprises 20 to 40% of total energy use and is above industry and transport figures in EU and USA. However, available information is clearly insufficient and not proportional to its importance. It is not considered as an independent sector and there is a lack of consistent data which makes it difficult to understand the underlying changes that affect energy consumption in this sector. It is essential to make available comprehensive building energy information to allow suitable analysis and efficiently plan energy policies for the future.
In that respect, studies developed by the EIA on the energy consumption of residential and commercial buildings in the USA are a valuable reference.
Proliferation of energy consumption and CO2 emissions on the built environment have made energy efficiency strategies a priority for energy policies developing new building regulations and certification schemes which now include minimum requirements. With the consolidation of the demand for thermal comfort, HVAC systems (and its associated energy consumption) have become an unavoidable asset, accounting for almost half the energy consumed in buildings, and around 10 to 20% of total energy consumption in developed countries.
The growing trend in building energy consumption will continue during the coming years due to the expansion of built area and associated energy needs, as long as resource and environmental exhaustion or economic recession allows it. Private initiative together with government intervention through the promotion of energy efficiency, new technologies for energy production, limiting energy consumption and raising social awareness on the rational use of energy will be essential to make possible a sustainable energy future.
References
[1] International Energy Agency. Key World Energy Statistics, 2006.
[2] Energy Information Administration. International Energy Outlook 2006. U.S.
Department of Energy, June 2006.
[3] Directive 2002/91/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16
December 2002 on the energy performance of buildings, 2002.
[4] Ministerio de Economía. Estrategia de ahorro y eficiencia energética en
España 2004-2012. Noviembre 2003.
[5] Pérez-Lombard, L., Adnot, J., Ortiz, J. A. and Rivière, P. HVAC systems
energy comparisons for an office building. Proceedings of Climamed. Lisbon,
2004.
[6] Energy Information Administration. Residential Energy Consumption Survey
(RECS). U.S. Department of Energy, 2001.
[7] Energy Information Administration. Commercial Buildings Energy
Consumption Survey (CBECS). U.S. Department of Energy, 2003.
[8] Instituto para la diversificación y Ahorro de la energía (IDAE). Eficiencia
Energética y Energías Renovables (Nº 8). Madrid, octubre de 2006.
[9] EECCAC (Energy Efficiency and Certification of Central Air Conditioners)
project for the Directorate General Transportation-Energy of the Commission
of the European Union. Final report. April 2003.
[10] Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio. La Energía en España 2005.
