Experts state that artificial intelligence-based translation tools have gained prominence in recent years due to their high-speed and high-capacity translation capabilities, and that translations produced by human translators and artificial intelligence show that language is not merely composed of words.
Lecturer Gözde Büklüm from the Department of Translation and Interpreting noted that in critically important matters, human translators are still trusted over machines, and said, “In the age of artificial intelligence, translators will redefine themselves not just as translators, but as language and culture experts who edit texts, analyze context, and oversee AI output.”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (İTBF) Department of Translation and Interpreting (English) Lecturer Gözde Büklüm evaluated the changes brought by artificial intelligence in the field of translation and the future of the translation profession on the occasion of September 30 Translation Day.
Translations vary according to context
Büklüm stated that profound changes are being witnessed in the field of translation with the rapidly developing artificial intelligence technologies and the innovations they bring, and continued as follows:
“Artificial intelligence-based translation tools have gained prominence in recent years due to their high-speed and high-capacity translation capabilities. The translations they provide mostly yield successful results in everyday language, technical fields, and language pairs rich in linguistic data. This situation has naturally led translation candidates to feel a bit of panic. So, is our profession disappearing? Will artificial intelligence technologies truly replace human translators? To find the answer to this question, we need to evaluate the contexts in which translations will be used.
Translations produced by human translators and artificial intelligence are sharply distinguished by the fact that language is not merely composed of words. Emotion, context, intent, and cultural layers are elements that make it difficult for machines to translate. In situations where the same sentence can have different meanings according to different contexts, and where different expressions need to be preferred according to the culture and time period, AI-based tools cannot yet provide successful results. These results prove to us that translation is not a simple linguistic transfer with a single correct equivalent.”
Human expertise is still needed in some areas
Lecturer Gözde Büklüm, stating that artificial intelligence can be effective in technical documents, said, “Yes, AI produces effective and successful translations in more standardized text types like technical documents or in non-complex sentence structures. However, human expertise is still needed in areas such as literary translation, advertising translation, legal texts, the healthcare sector, simultaneous interpretation, culturally rich subtitle translations, and game translation. Artificial intelligence applications are still insufficient in understanding and translating idioms, irony, metaphors, and cultural references. Understanding context, interpreting the implied meaning behind words, and ensuring cultural appropriateness in these types are the points where machine translation struggles.”
Translators will be redefined as language and culture experts
Lecturer Gözde Büklüm, also stating that individuals who will use translations prioritize quality and nuances in translation to avoid tarnishing their prestige and image, and therefore most users are not yet keen on AI translation, said, “In critically important matters, human translators are still trusted over machines. Nevertheless, we must accept that technology will always be part of translation processes and will be open to improvements. Translators who use technology well and are proficient in the culture of the language they translate into will gain a competitive advantage in this process, and the definition of the translation profession will change somewhat. In the age of artificial intelligence, translators will redefine themselves not just as translators, but as language and culture experts who edit texts, analyze context, and oversee AI output.”
Computer-assisted translation tools have been in courses for over 20 years
Lecturer Gözde Büklüm, explaining that artificial intelligence can be regarded as a useful tool rather than a threat when used carefully and ethically, concluded her words by saying, “Actually, the use of computers in translation is not a new phenomenon for us. The use of computer-assisted translation programs has been offered to students in courses within Translation and Interpreting departments for over 20 years. Thanks to these tools, students learn to produce both fast and high-quality translations. Artificial intelligence, like these tools, greatly facilitates our work in saving time and creating initial drafts, and our curriculum includes courses on the use of artificial intelligence. The courses, seminars, and workshops on artificial intelligence conducted in our university's Department of Translation and Interpreting play an important role in preparing students for the future. We aim to guide our students on how to use new technologies as language experts.”