Translation in Transition: The Feasibility and Effectiveness of Crowdsourced Translation Versus Professional Translation

Abstract

Translation services are an essential part of successful human interaction in the modern world. While professional translators have served humanity for millennia, the world is rapidly evolving, and translation needs are evolving as well. Those who use translation services are seeking faster, more efficient, and less expensive means for meeting their translation needs. The demand for alternatives to professional translation services has led to the birth of crowdsourced translation. Crowdsourced translation is the process by which text is translated using the collective knowledge of a group of people. The group, or "crowd", is most often accessed via the Internet. Because it employs the services of many individuals and the high-speed communications capabilities of the Internet, crowdsourcing is a fast, low-cost method of producing translations. Some professional translators question the feasibility of crowdsourced translation, while some of those involved in crowdsourced translation argue that crowdsourcing is superior because of its speed and cost-effectiveness. This paper investigates these claims and explores the strengths and weaknesses of each method in a variety of likely scenarios.