Experts emphasize that AI-based translation tools, which have come to the forefront in recent years due to their ability to translate at high speed and capacity, have demonstrated that translations produced by human translators and artificial intelligence alike reveal that language is not merely made up of words.
Highlighting that people still rely on human translators rather than machines in matters of critical importance, Instructor Gözde Büklüm from the Department of Translation and Interpreting stated: “In the age of artificial intelligence, translators will redefine themselves not just as individuals who translate, but as language and culture experts who edit texts, analyze context, and supervise AI outputs.”
Gözde Büklüm, Instructor at Üsküdar University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Translation and Interpreting (English), shared her assessment of the changes brought by artificial intelligence in translation and the future of the translation profession on the occasion of September 30, International Translation Day.
Translations differ depending on context
Büklüm noted that today’s rapidly developing AI technologies and the innovations they bring are ushering in profound changes in the field of translation: “AI-based translation tools have stood out in recent years with their ability to produce translations at high speed and capacity. The translations they provide are often successful in everyday language, technical fields, and language pairs that are rich in linguistic data. This has understandably caused some panic among translation students. Thus, is our profession at risk? Will AI technologies really replace human translators? To answer this question, we need to consider the contexts in which translations will be used. Translations produced by humans and those produced by AI diverge sharply at the point where language is more than just words. Emotion, context, intent, and cultural layers are elements that make translation challenging for machines. The same sentence may carry different meanings depending on context, or require different expressions depending on the culture or time frame it is used in. In such cases, AI-based tools are not yet able to deliver successful results. These outcomes prove to us that translation is not merely a straightforward transfer of language with a single correct equivalent.”
Human expertise still needed in certain fields
Noting that AI can be effective in some areas, Büklüm explained: “In more standardized text types such as technical documents, or in texts with relatively simple sentence structures, AI can indeed produce effective and successful translations. However, in fields such as literary translation, advertising, legal texts, healthcare, simultaneous interpreting, or culturally dense translations like subtitling and game localization, human expertise is still indispensable. AI applications remain insufficient in understanding and translating idioms, irony, metaphors, and cultural references. In these genres, understanding the context, interpreting what is implied behind the words, and ensuring cultural appropriateness are precisely the areas where machine translation struggles.”
Translators will be redefined as language and culture experts
Büklüm also noted that users care about quality and nuance in translation to protect their prestige and image, which is why most are still hesitant about relying solely on AI: “People still trust human translators, not machines, in matters of critical importance. That said, we must acknowledge that technology will always be a part of translation processes going forward and will continue to evolve. Translators who use technology effectively and are well-versed in the culture of the language they translate into will gain a competitive advantage, and the definition of the translation profession will evolve further. In the age of artificial intelligence, translators will redefine themselves not only as translators but also as language and culture experts who edit texts, analyze context, and supervise AI outputs.”
Computer-assisted translation tools have been part of courses for over 20 years
Explaining that artificial intelligence can be regarded not as a threat but as a useful tool when used carefully and ethically, Instructor Gözde Büklüm stated: “Truth be told, using computers in translation is not something entirely new to us. In Translation and Interpreting departments, the use of computer-assisted translation (CAT) programs has been offered to students for over 20 years. Thanks to these tools, students learn how to produce translations both quickly and with high quality. Artificial intelligence, much like these tools, makes our work significantly easier when it comes to saving time and creating initial drafts, and our curriculum already includes courses focused on the use of AI. Courses, seminars, and workshops on artificial intelligence in our university’s Department of Translation and Interpreting play an important role in preparing students for the future. Our aim is to guide our students, as language professionals, on how to effectively use new technologies.”