Fostering MT Literacy and Reasserting the Value of Human Translators

Abstract

In a rapidly evolving language services landscape where the boundaries between translation, revision, and post-editing are becoming increasingly blurred, this article provides a state-of-the-art review on the intricate relationship between human translators and Neural Machine Translation (NMT). While acknowledging the significant advancements made in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied to automatic language processing, we want to emphasize the pressing need to reassert the value of human translators over unconscious algorithms that automatically generate translations. This paper also highlights the synergy between human skills and technology, positioning NMT as a key additional tool in a translator’s toolkit that enhances both speed and efficiency to meet the exponentially growing demand for translation services and to cope with the ever-tightening deadlines. Nevertheless, considering the ambivalent effects of NMT on the quality of the final product, we advocate for the informed and responsible use of machine translation (MT) tools by both professionals and translation students. Furthermore, we believe that beyond fostering MT literacy, translation trainers may play a crucial role in nurturing adaptability in future translators, equipping them with the necessary skills and tools to confidently navigate the latest and emerging technologies—such as interactive and adaptive MT tools or chatbots—in order to secure them a competitive advantage in the translation industry.

Keywords

• machine translation
• mt literacy
• human translators
• mt tools
• translation students