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LATHICAI Glossary

Generative AI & LLMs

Machine translation

Automatically translating text or speech between human languages.

Example

A tool translates a supplier's email into the reader's language.

Why people use it

It helps people communicate or read material in a language they do not speak.

What you'll hear

“Translate this message into Spanish.”

What this means for you

Have important or sensitive translations checked by a qualified speaker.

Can you control it?

Sometimes

Sometimes. Your choices depend on the tool and your access. The settings available to an everyday user may differ from those available to the people running it.

Common questions

Does smoothly written translation guarantee the meaning is preserved?
No. Tone, specialized terms and ambiguities can be mistranslated.
Can a name be translated incorrectly?
Yes. A system may mistake a name for an ordinary word or change its spelling.
Will the translation keep the same level of politeness?
Not always. Formality, humor and cultural meaning can be lost or changed.

Related terms

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