GPT-4 and “Pivot Prompting” Translation
A recent study by Tencent AI Lab found that GPT-4 rivals Google Translate and DeepL on high-resource European languages, but struggles with low-resource or distant pairs like Chinese–English.
Researchers also tested a “pivot prompting” strategy—translating first into English, then into the target language—which improved coverage but introduced error propagation and semantic drift.
In short, GPT-4 is a strong step forward, yet multilingual and domain-specific translation still present real challenges.
#GPT4 #MachineTranslation #AIResearch #DeepL #GoogleTranslate #TranslationStudies
Honoring Translation: Tradition, Expertise, and Innovation
On September 30, we celebrate translation not only as a profession, but as a tradition as old as writing itself. From Boethius safeguarding ancient philosophy to today’s translators navigating the emergence of AI, the essence remains the same: building bridges of trust, accuracy, and cultural understanding.
At Boethius Translations, we honor this legacy by combining meticulous human expertise with modern tools—ensuring that more is found in translation than is ever lost.
The Impact of Legal Mistranslation: Three Examples
Mistranslation can derail trials, mislead the public, or deny justice. This article highlights three real-world cases where legal translation errors — human or machine-made — had serious consequences.
In the news
A translation error led to a nationwide recall in the US and Canada.
Shibboleths in Legal Translation
A shibboleth is a test to detect outsiders who lack the necessary knowledge. Legal translation is rife with them.
Summary: Inquiry into Interpretation and Translation in UK Courts
A House of Lords inquiry into the interpretation and translation services in the courts is underway in the UK. We are reporting on the key findings.
Emilia Pérez and the pitfalls of mistranslation
The film has also sparked intense controversy and criticism, particularly in Mexico, due to what many Mexicans see as its use of stereotypes (…)
A Public Inquiry Into (Anti-)Fraud
The first Young Fraud Lawyers’ Association (YFLA) educational of the 25/26 membership year – An Inquiry into (Anti-)Fraud – sponsored by Boethius Translations, was held on 22nd January at the Library Room of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Wales.
Legal False Friends
Some basic legal terms look very similar in English and the main Romance languages, yet their meanings are quite different. Here are some dangerous legal false friends.
Event: A Public Inquiry Into (Anti-)Fraud
We are proud to have partnered with YFLA to make this wonderful event possible. We look forward to catching up old friends from London and meeting new ones there!