Technological progress touches many areas of our lives, and translation is no exception. One element of this development is blockchain, which is mostly associated with the world of cryptocurrencies. Find out what blockchain in translation actually is and exactly how it works in this field.
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a kind of digital ledger that allows various types of data to be stored. Its main feature is decentralisation – data is not saved through a central system but is distributed across all computers in the network.
Blockchain guarantees data immutability. Changing a block of data that has already been created requires the consent of all system users. This means the data contained in this modern system is secure and always protected at a high level.
But does this system only apply to the world of finance? Is blockchain present in translation as well? Although this is still an emerging area, it is worth realising that its presence could effectively streamline translators’ work and improve the quality of translations produced.
How does blockchain work in translation?
Wondering what blockchain could be used for in translation? Through data storage and tracking, blockchain makes it possible to track the entire online translation process. Everyone involved in a translation (the translator, editor, proofreader) makes certain changes, and their actions are recorded in the resulting data blocks.
This gives the client who commissioned the translation full visibility into who did what work and how the order was carried out.
Although blockchain in translation has not yet been sufficiently developed, there are areas where its use could make translation work easier. A good solution is combining blockchain with artificial intelligence, specifically with translation memory – a universal database created by professional translators, containing sentences and phrases translated from various languages. In this case, blockchain could streamline and improve the work of online translators.
