@davejonescue if you don't want your pastor preaching with ChatGPT, why are you
using AI to translate books?
Is putting AI garbage into the mouths of the great pastors and theologians of the past more ethical or righteous than your pastor speaking AI garbage from the pulpit?
As a person who does books, I am sure you are aware that as an employee you do not get to make decisions above your pay-grade. While I have dabbled with DeepL translating Dutch and French, after going over those translations I have altogether given up on the idea of auto-translation for a couple years now. At best it may be profitable to get a personal gist, but it is not good enough, in my opinion, for wide-spread publication. I have a copy of Vos' 1910 Dogmatics that I got from Princeton, in Dutch, but for me there is no use in doing anything with it because I dont know Dutch. But that was back when I thought DeepL could really be something. As far as Latin goes, I would never (at least at the moment) AI translate something extensively, especially a whole work; and publish it. Researching the language, it seems there are too many areas it can be misinterpreted. This is why I only deal with English texts. This is why I have yet to deal with English texts heavy in Latin like Leighs "Body of Divinity," or Twisse "Riches of Gods Love," both texts that are pretty easy to get out, but are riddled with Latin. Most contemporary readers do not know Latin, and while a splash here or there I dont see as harmful, entire paragraphs throughout a book is too much for normal audiences and kind of a waste of time (in my opinion.) We might do Leigh in the future, but if we do it will only be by popular demand, and if I do it, all the Latin will be included as is.
But again, I dont own Monergism. And frankly some things in life are trial and error. I dont have the right to tell the owner what they can publish no more than anybody working as a side editor for RHB or Banner has the right to tell them what they can publish. If people contact Monergism, which I am sure some will, and point out to them all the places the book is in error, then I am pretty sure they will pull it. But as far as I can see they seem to be testing the reaches of the present technology, which is bound to happen. Sometimes you dont know until you try.
If I had AI translated this work, and felt such confidence in doing so, that I would deem it good for ePublishing, I would have let this board know it was out and posted it as a free title. But I didnt. Not because it may not be, but because I dont know Latin and cant verify if it is or not. Yet, such is life. That is the nature of being a subordanite, that is, you have to stay in your lane. It is not a heretical book, so it doesnt bother me they did it. But since again, I dont know Latin, there is no way I can point out what may be in error to dissuade them from doing it now, or in the future; or, if they need to be dissuaded at all.
Some of it I think also is what someone mentioned earlier. There are so many works in Latin, Dutch, etc. that have yet to be translated; that people just get antsy pants and if they see a way they may shed light on them, they do it. Until it can be proven to them that it cannot be done, then simply saying "it shouldnt" has little bearing. That is one of the issues of doing free books. Is you have to take into consideration when dealing with complaints, is if they are in fact legitimate, or if they are coming from a place where people dont want what they deem as competition, or want the "old ways" to remain. There is nothing wrong with the "old ways," only as it remains there are no new ways which surpass them.
If you think the book is in error. Contact them and point out the ways it is.
You are the self-professed expert in Latin. But like others have said as well. I do not place translating books, whomever they are from, or however they are translated, on remotely the same level as a Pastor using AI weekly, to compose sermons for a living, breathing congregation.
