If you're tackling legal translations, accuracy and context are crucial. When looking for the right translation tool, two popular and options stand out: Google Translate and DeepL. Here's a comparison to help you decide which might best suit your needs.
Translation Accuracy
Google Translate is widely recognized and generally reliable, but it can struggle with idiomatic expressions, cultural nuances, and less commonly spoken languages. For legal translations, it's essential to double-check the results for accuracy.
DeepL is another excellent option. Many law librarians (see e.g. this Diplawmatic Dialouges article) find that DeepL’s translations sound more natural than those of Google Translate, and more effectively handle idiomatic expressions and nuanced language. DeepL also seems to be less prone to word order issues.
DeepL features a dictionary and a glossary. The dictionary feature provides translations and examples for selected words. For instance, if you’re translating from German to English and highlight the word Gericht in the source text, the dictionary will provide possible translations such as “court,” “judgment,” or “dish.” It also offers context-specific example sentences for each option.
The glossary feature allows you define specific translations for terms and short phrases, so that you can maintain some consistency across documents. For example, if you prefer translating the German word "Auftrag" as "order" instead of "assignment," you can set this preference in your glossary.
DeepL excels in European languages but is more limited when it comes to non-European languages. Google Translate offers a wider range of languages, making it a better option for languages outside of Europe
Finally, there is also a subscription-based version of DeepL (DeepLPro). According to the Diplawmatic Dialogues article, referenced above, the free version of DeepL appears to offer the same high-quality translations as the paid version. DeeplPro offers added benefits like unlimited usage and data privacy.
Data Privacy Considerations
For users concerned about data privacy, DeepLPro (the paid version) offers no data retention as a feature. This most likely makes it a safer choice for handling confidential legal documents. In contrast, Google Translate’s free version does not guarantee the same level of privacy.
For further reading, here are two helpful articles about the risks associated with free translation tools:
AI and ChatGPT
Both Google Translate and DeepL use AI to improve their translation capabilities, and they continue to evolve. While ChatGPT isn’t designed primarily as a translation tool, it can be useful for refining or verifying phrasing. However, it’s probably not a good idea to rely solely on ChatGPT for critical translations without review.
In Summary ...
Google Translate is more versatile in language coverage but may struggle with nuance and idiomatic expressions. DeepL excels in accuracy, especially with European languages, and offers better features for privacy and context. For confidential legal translations, DeepLPro is the safer choice, while both Google Translate and the free version of DeepL are solid options for less sensitive content.
Submitted by Sunil Rao, on January 27, 2025
This article appears in the categories: Law Library
