Poll: My feelings about the future of the language services industry are: Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "My feelings about the future of the language services industry are:".
View the poll results »
| | | | | Leaning towards optimistic in the short-run | Jul 18, 2023 |
I’m optimistic by nature and I'm nearing the end of my career. I have no crystal ball and I’m no good at predictions, but I'm one of those people who always see the glass as half full and I don’t believe things will change dramatically during the remaining of my professional lifetime. If 40 years ago when I started translating someone would speak of computers, internet, CATs, MT, ChatGPT, bots and AI I know I’d say: “Huh, this MUST be science fiction!”. More than never, to survive in... See more I’m optimistic by nature and I'm nearing the end of my career. I have no crystal ball and I’m no good at predictions, but I'm one of those people who always see the glass as half full and I don’t believe things will change dramatically during the remaining of my professional lifetime. If 40 years ago when I started translating someone would speak of computers, internet, CATs, MT, ChatGPT, bots and AI I know I’d say: “Huh, this MUST be science fiction!”. More than never, to survive in this industry translators will need to be knowledgeable, skilled, adaptable, strategic and resilient… ▲ Collapse
| | | | Iulia Parvu 
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:06
Member (2022)
English to Romanian
+ ...
| I hope you're right, however... | Jul 18, 2023 |
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote:
I’m optimistic by nature and I'm nearing the end of my career. I have no crystal ball and I’m no good at predictions, but I'm one of those people who always see the glass as half full and I don’t believe things will change dramatically during the remaining of my professional lifetime. If 40 years ago when I started translating someone would speak of computers, internet, CATs, MT, ChatGPT, bots and AI I know I’d say: “Huh, this MUST be science fiction!”. More than never, to survive in this industry translators will need to be knowledgeable, skilled, adaptable, strategic and resilient…
The pace of technological advancement is exponential, and within a few years, it's possible that this profession could become obsolete. I don't consider myself pessimistic, but rather realistic. My hope is that creative translation and writing will remain relevant for a while longer, although I doubt they will endure for another 20 years, which is when I plan to retire.
| | | | expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 13:06
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| Live one day at a time and don't make predictions | Jul 18, 2023 |
As I said in another thread, the future of my profession doesn't scare me, because translators will always exist, just like any other profession.
What I am really afraid of is the way some people are using technology, in an abusive, dishonest and unprofessional way.
I consider myself optimistic. I'm sick of hearing whining, complaining and to some extent to see a certain anxiety about many things, although I try to understand and respect those feelings.
Live one day at a time a... See more As I said in another thread, the future of my profession doesn't scare me, because translators will always exist, just like any other profession.
What I am really afraid of is the way some people are using technology, in an abusive, dishonest and unprofessional way.
I consider myself optimistic. I'm sick of hearing whining, complaining and to some extent to see a certain anxiety about many things, although I try to understand and respect those feelings.
Live one day at a time and don't make predictions.
 ▲ Collapse
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| I was optimistic, but... | Jul 18, 2023 |
... but my best client asked recently if I would accept to "review" some "translations performed by DeepL" as an "experiment". Maybe we're doomed anyway. Or maybe I should become a farmer.
| | | | | Pessimistic bordering on apocalyptic | Jul 18, 2023 |
I think the machines are already better than most translators.
While I don't think the machines will be as good as the best translators in the near future, I do worry that the world will think they're good enough.
Either way, they'll be quicker and cheaper.
It's over.
| | | | Becca Resnik
United States
Local time: 08:06
Member
German to English
+ ...
The future of the language services industry? I have individual predictions that are each essentially optimistic, neutral, or pessimistic. What I anticipate overall is that either the neutral set or the pessimistic set will become reality.
My future in the language services industry? Nothing but optimistic! I continue to have more work than ever, my rates are above average (and I've successfully increased them in recent months), and my clients regularly sing my praises. To to... See more The future of the language services industry? I have individual predictions that are each essentially optimistic, neutral, or pessimistic. What I anticipate overall is that either the neutral set or the pessimistic set will become reality.
My future in the language services industry? Nothing but optimistic! I continue to have more work than ever, my rates are above average (and I've successfully increased them in recent months), and my clients regularly sing my praises. To top it all off, I sincerely enjoy my work! Even if my pessimistic set of predictions comes true, I foresee that I will continue to have a strong steady workflow. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Felipe Tomasi
Brazil
Local time: 09:06
Member
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| My two cents | Jul 18, 2023 |
I believe that feelings about the future of the language services industry are determined by how each professional addresses it. It all depends on the skills you develop and the mindset you adopt, whether positive, negative, or neutral.
In my case, I regularly develop skills (whether AI-related or interpersonal) and take a positive, down-to-earth approach.
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Angus Stewart
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:06
Member (2011)
French to English
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I left the profession last year due to the advent of machine translation leading to the business becoming unviable for me.
| | | | Michael Newton
United States
Local time: 08:06
Japanese to English
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| future of language services industry | Jul 19, 2023 |
I have pivoted to equity analysis. There is more work for me in the financial services industry than in translation. Besides, agencies are not interested in a translator's experience, they are interested in CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 14:06
French to English
Michael Newton wrote:
I have pivoted to equity analysis. There is more work for me in the financial services industry than in translation. Besides, agencies are not interested in a translator's experience, they are interested in CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP.
Good for you that you've found another way to earn your living.
Personally, my clients have mostly started working for me on the strength of my experience, and nobody has tried to negotiate me down since before Covid, so not everyone is interested in price only.
I'm pessimistic for the language services industry as a whole, it'll be wiped out in my lifetime, and linguists will be reduced to correcting machine output.
For those of us who consider that translation is a profession rather than an industry, the outlook is not nearly as bleak. Like Teresa, I only have a few more years to go before I retire, and for the time being my clients are sending me plenty of work. I've weeded out certain customers (those who were not pleasant and polite, who sent boring texts, or who paid late) and I've raised my rate for new customers. I'm also taking more time off this year, because I smashed through the ceiling for my status and will have to transfer to another status and pay far more tax if I do it again. I feel that my creative niche is the one field that machines are not yet capable of handling properly, and I'm confident I can work until retirement without any problems. Then I'll keep working only for my dearest clients, because I learn such a lot and I love it.
| | | | Dan Lucas
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:06
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
Michael Newton wrote:
I have pivoted to equity analysis. There is more work for me in the financial services industry than in translation.
Oddly enough, I pivoted in the other direction! After a decade I (still) have no regrets, especially when I listen to old friends and former colleagues, most of whom stayed put, grousing about their situation. Obviously this depends a lot on location and exact role - it's a big industry.
Dan
[Edited at 2023-07-19 17:14 GMT]
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