In a world full of machines, the art of translation has become truly challenged. However, no one can deny the power of efficient communication.

The first question that comes to mind when I mention this is, “What does efficient communication mean?” As humans, we talk to each other. That is our nature; it is how we build networks with both loved ones and people we rely on in everyday life, such as:

• buying groceries
• taking a bus
• saying hi to someone you know
• catching up with a friend
• or even kissing the kids goodnight before going to bed

Meaning, however, is not always universal. Although we may understand the usual implications of a particular word – common meanings we may find in dictionaries, for instance – we may not always grasp all the possible meanings behind a phrase, as they greatly depend on the people using those words and phrases.

Why does this happen? It is because human beings bring their own emotions and experiences into play every time they speak.

This expression, which may at times be pleasant and positive, or at times unpleasant and negative, can create different shades of meaning related to:

• shared experiences
• references to particular anecdotes
• spoken ideas
• thoughts
• something previously discussed, etc.

This is the point at which each particular context comes in and we, as professional human translators, must not overlook it. Given that these layers of meaning may at times be implicit and not easily traceable in written or spoken words, machine translation usually does not recognize them.

The question now is: “Why would this be important for translation in fields such as medicine, software, engineering, among others?”

Its relevance for cinema, marketing, and literary texts is clear, but what happens when this comes into contact with technical texts? In scientific and technical fields, efficient communication is crucial.

For example, in IT, those working with systems have their own way of speaking and their preferred terminology. Programmers usually do not speak like those who work in the automotive field. Precise and efficient communication saves time and creates scope for further advances.

When it comes to written communication, being able to use the correct and up-to-date terminology of the translation’s recipients helps create a better understanding and consistency of wording, which ultimately leads to expansion.

To sum up, context is added to the list of items or factors contributing to the definition of a particular meaning. As you may know by now, the list is not short.

Factors such as the speaker’s age, their cultural background, the time and place in which they are situated, the relationship they have with each other, and the context and the situation itself are just some of the elements that shape their communication and, as a consequence, they restrict the possibilities in terms of translation.

In the end, conveying meaning is a shared task, as there will always be a sender and a receiver for the message to pass between.