Do you want to know the future of the translation profession? This is what the Oracle told us in Greece.

During our IAPTI Second International Conference in Greece, we went up to Delphi and praised the knowledgeable Pythia. She agreed to listen to a few of our questions, asked on your behalf. Here’s what Pythia told us about the future of the translation profession…

Will I reach my set goals?

Whether you will or will not reach your goals depends on whether you’re SMART… It’s a secret formula and skill so look for an S, look for an M, look for an A, look for an R, and look for a T, too…

Will translation rates go up any time soon?

Oh thy poor souls who think translation rates are set by gods… Look in a mirror to find the answer.

Will Capita (former ALS) be brought to justice for the damage it has caused UK interpreters?

Oh thou Crapita you are, not will be dragged to justice and pay for what thou have done to those English interpreters.

We can see the developers behind the prevailing online translation tools who continue to improve their machines as in Google’s case together with the help of professional translators who use the tool and, believe it or not, suggest better translations though the drawback is low quality, my question is: will we still have a future for our profession in the years to come?

The future to come not up to machine is but to those who rule the machine.

When will those companies that destroy our profession vanish into thin air?

Oh what has thin air done to you, those who destroy shall fall and be buried.

Will human translation be replaced by machine translation?

Oh thy machine is not to replace human translators easily just one step into the future.

Will translators not holding a degree in translation studies or linguistics, such as translators with a degree in science or technology be pushed out of the market?

In front of one enemy made of cogs, cables and wires, all those with flesh and blood shall unite in spite of how different they may seem on the outside, the essence lies inside.