Post-editing (PE) refers to the process by which a language expert edits machine translation (MT) output to produce 100% human translation quality. Post-editing is the process of combining machine translation with high-level professional post-translation editors to produce high-quality translations that can meet publishing standards.

Full post-editing

With post-editing, the translation which is equivalent to the quality of human translation can be acquired. The goal is to achieve correct grammar and punctuation and accurate translation which is both easy to understand and in a consistent style. The focus is on achieving correct grammar, punctuation and spelling, accurate translation and terminology and revision of cultural differences and consistent style in translation. As a result, the translation through post-editing can meet the requirements of customers.

Light post-editing

With post-editing, you can get a text which is not as good as human translation but easy to understand. Editors of light post-editing try to use as much of the original output of machine translation as possible. They attach importance to modifying mistranslation, contents of cultural differences, reorganizing sentence structures and maintaining the translation style.

Post-editor’s tasks

-Read MT output and evaluate whether a revision of the target language is required;

-Refer to the source language as reference and, if necessary, correct the target language;

-Produce target language from existing elements in MT output or provide a new translation.