DO WE STILL NEED TRANSLATORS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?
Who hasn't heard of ChatGPT, Deepl, Google Gemini or the well-known Google Translate? Most of us have probably used them at least once. Artificial intelligence-based translation tools are far from perfect, but a lot of work is being done to improve them. Many companies are using them to reduce translation time and costs, but it is worth noting that there is still a need for someone to check afterwards whether the text translated with AI fully corresponds to the source text.
When asked whether we still need translators in the age of artificial intelligence, the answer is a resounding YES. Firstly, for official translations (diplomas, notarial deeds, certificates, etc.), we have to turn to the services of an authorised translator. Without his stamp and signature, the translation is not valid. Sometimes you also need apostille, which can be obtained from any court in the Kingdom of the NetherlandsHowever, this service does not require the translator to be present. In Romania, in the case of authorised translations, the translator has to go one step further, which is to have the translation legalised by a notary, but here he does not need to do this - his signature and stamp are sufficient.
Where do we find an authorised translator when we need one? Authorised translators who have obtained their translator's licence from the Romanian Ministry of Justice can be found on the website of the Romanian Embassy in The Hague. Authorised translators who have obtained their translator's licence by passing an examination in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are entered in the Register of Translators and Interpreters (Rbtv), which can be consulted here: Zoekeentolkvertaler. The city where each translator/interpreter works is listed next to each translator/interpreter - useful information if you want to avoid postal or travelling costs - but not all translators/interpreters list their city in the register.
Here list of translators who translate from Dutch into Romanian:
M. Mr Chendler (Duivendrecht)
G.L. Rivas (Lelystad)
D. Bolman-Popescu (Groningen)
D. Perie (Beverwijk)
M.M. Petruța (Wessem)
C.M. Vellinga-Firimita
D.A. Bucur
MR P.M. Loyson-Mera (Sittard)
J.P. Kent (Amsterdam)
Mr van Meurs-Manolescu
M.F. Iorga (Amsterdam)
A.V. Vition
A.R. Teodoru (Rotterdam)
Mr Janmart (Dendermonde)
A.A. Vuijk-Umanschi
A. Koetluk-Florescu
F. van Velzen-Popa
C.R. Sodoleanu (Waalwijk)
J.W. Bos (Leiderdorp)
M.E. Stanciu - Crăciunescu (Werkhoven)
M.M. Mincu (Goes)
C. Blankendaal-Sutac
S.R. Marinescu
A.J. Kom
L. What
E.H. van der Linden (Amsterdam)
E. Manea (Groningen)
E. Acorn
Please note that not all translators who translate from Dutch into English automatically also translate from English into Dutch. Please find below list of translators who translate from Romanian into Dutch:
E. Manea (Groningen)
T.J. van Dijk (Groningen)
D. Perie (Beverwijk)
E.H. van der Linden (Amsterdam)
MR P.M. Loyson-Mera (Sittard)
A.R. Teodoru (Rotterdam)
D.A. Bucur
C.J. van Rooden
Mr Janmart (Dendermonde)
Mr van Meurs-Manolescu
J.W. Bos (Leiderdorp)
L. What
S.R. Marinescu
C.R. Sodoleanu (Waalwijk)
M.E. Stanciu - Crăciunescu (Werkhoven)
A.J. Kom
C.M. Vellinga-Firimita
C. Blankendaal - Sutac
A. Koetluk-Florescu
G.L. Rivas (Lelystad)
J.P. Kent (Amsterdam)
F. van Velzen - Popa
M.M. Petruța (Wessem)
A.A. Vuijk - Umanschi
D. Bolman - Popescu (Groningen)
What's the difference between a translator and an interpreter?
A translator makes written translations and an interpreter translates orally - simultaneously (also called conference interpreting) or consecutively - what someone says in another language.
Here is the list of authorised interpreters in the Kingdom of the Netherlands:
- Interpreters translating from Dutchin Romanian
Mr Janmart (Dendermonde)
H.R.W. Trok (Amsterdam)
M.E. Stanciu - Crăciunescu (Werkhoven)
L. What
D. Hoodendoorn-Tasie (Almelo)
Mr van Meurs-Manolescu
D. Perie (Beverwijk)
M. Mr Chendler (Duivendrecht)
A. J. Kom
M.F. Iorga (Amsterdam)
D. Bolman - Popescu
M.M. Petruța (Wessem)
Mr Oude Bennink-Deac (Enschede)
E.H. van der Linden (Amsterdam)
R.V. Mamuleanu (Amsterdam)
D.A. Bucur
A. Mihai (Zoetermeer)
A.R. Teodoru (Rotterdam)
F. van Velzen - Popa
L.S. Ionescu (Leerdam)
D. Bolman - Popescu (Groningen)
A. Barbita (Hasselt)
D.G. Tunariu (Woudenberg)
C.R. Sodoleanu (Waalwijk)
A.V. Vition
I. Noghiu-Csanyi (Enkhuizen)
E. Manea (Groningen)
G.L. Rivas (Lelystad)
J.W. Bos (Leiderdorp)
J.P. Kent (Amsterdam)
C. Blankendaal - Sutac
A.E. Bosch Zsigmond (Apeldoorn)
M.L. Coțofană (Helmond)
L. Secareanu - Serbu (Kerkrade)
N. Solos (Capelle aan den Ijssel)
M.M. Brand-Girescu (Capelle aan den Ijssel)
- Interpreters who translate from Romanian into Dutchă
D. Bolman - Popescu (Groningen)
E.H. van der Linden (Amsterdam)
D. Hoodendoorn-Tasie (Almelo)
J.W. Bos (Leiderdorp)
M.F. Iorga (Amsterdam)
A. Barbita (Hasselt)
M.M. Petruța (Wessem)
A. J. Kom
Mr Janmart (Dendermonde)
M.E. Stanciu - Crăciunescu (Werkhoven)
R.V. Mamuleanu (Amsterdam)
A. Mihai (Zoetermeer)
L.S. Ionescu (Leerdam)
D.A. Bucur
J.P. Kent (Amsterdam)
Mr van Meurs-Manolescu
D. Perie (Beverwijk)
I. Noghiu-Csanyi (Enkhuizen)
A.R. Teodoru (Rotterdam)
Mr Oude Bennink-Deac (Enschede)
C. Blankendaal - Sutac
H.R.W. Trok (Amsterdam)
L. What
D.G. Tunariu (Woudenberg)
M. Mr Chendler (Duivendrecht)
C.R. Sodoleanu (Waalwijk)
F. van Velzen - Popa
E. Manea (Groningen)
G.L. Rivas (Lelystad)
A.V. Vition
M.L. Coțofană (Helmond)
L. Secareanu - Serbu (Kerkrade)
N. Solos (Capelle aan den Ijssel)
M.M. Brand-Girescu (Capelle aan den Ijssel)
A.E. Bosch Zsigmond (Apeldoorn)
Literary translations
How are things with literary translations? The best-known and most prolific literary translator in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is undoubtedly Mr Jan Willem Bos. Some of the titles he has translated from Romanian into Dutch are: Roemenië, verhalen van deze tijd (1988) - an anthology of short prose - Transvestite, by Mircea Cărtărescu, Sinds tweededuizend jaar (2018) (translation of Mihail Sebastian's 2000 Years), De wetenden (2010)Trofee (2012) and Het onmetelijke mausoleum (2015) (translation of Mircea Cărtărescu's Orbitor trilogy), Het boek der fluisteringen, the translation of the book Varujan Vosganian (2016), but also Solenoid (2022), the translation of Cărtărescu's novel Solenoid. In 2018, Mr Bos was decorated with the Order of Cultural Merit in the rank of Grand Officer for his work promoting Romanian culture. And in 2019 he was honoured with the Martinus Nijhoff Prize for his work as a translator, the most important prize for literary translations in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
If you haven't yet read the book From the Rhine to the Danube and back: my autobiography ensleeveby Jan Willem Bos, I highly recommend it, his deep love for Romania is more than evident in this book.
Andrei Anastasescu, Luminița Bobu, Anda Dragomir, Alexa Stoicescu, Irina Vasilachi-Anton, Cătălina Oșlobeanu are part of the new generation of literary translators, translating books from Dutch into Romanian.
Young translator Charlotte van Rooden (whose mentor is Mr Jan Willem Bos) is one of the translators currently working on translations from Romanian into Dutch.
Let's not overlook the endeavours of several Dutch publishers to make the books of Romanian authors known to the Dutch public. The best known are De bezige Bij, Meulenhoff, Pegasus and Atlas, but also the publisher Go-Boss Press Mr Jan Willem Bos.
Returning to the role of the translator in the year 2024, it is clear that it still has an important role to play. As tempting as it may be for some companies to use artificial intelligence, especially to cut costs, the outcome can be undesirable if this technology is used without supervision. Machine translations should always be checked by people who actually master the languages from/into which they are being translated. Even though using AI speeds up the translation process and, as already mentioned, reduces costs, accuracy and quality should remain a priority.
An article by Magda Mincu.
Magda has been living in the Netherlands since 2012 with her family. She is a translator by profession (predominantly Dutch to Romanian) and has been part of the Rompro Foundation's marketing team since early 2022. She chose to become a volunteer in the Foundation primarily out of a desire to socialize with other Romanians living in the Netherlands, but also to help with information and translations.
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