How does the writer describe a translator's work?
Many people imagine that a translator simply swaps words from one language into another. In reality, the work is closer to rewriting. A joke, a legal clause or a line of poetry rarely has an exact equivalent, and the translator must decide what matters most: the literal meaning, the tone, or the effect on the reader. Machine translation has improved dramatically and now handles routine texts competently, which has led some to predict the end of the profession. Yet professionals point out that errors in a contract or medical leaflet can have serious consequences, so organisations still want a human to check the final text. Translators increasingly act as editors of machine output, a role that demands judgment more than vocabulary.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Closer to rewriting than to word swapping
- Step 1: The passage says the work is closer to rewriting.
Answer
Closer to rewriting than to word swapping.
Why not the others: It is not described as mechanical, vocabulary-based or easy.
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