Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Artificial intelligence may be able to translate words at lightning speed - but only humans can capture meaning and depth, an expert has said, reaffirming that bots will not replace translators.
In an interview with Aletihad, Professor Saddik Gohar, translation expert at the National Library and Archives, shed light on the significant transformations in translation studies and industry landscapes amid tech advancements, cultural shifts, and evolving market demands.
Though AI speeds up translation and ensures consistency, certain nuances are still unaccounted for, Gohar said. AI can analyse and imitate emotional tones or metaphors, but not the depth of human language, which is grounded in lived experience and cultural context.
"The future of translation will be more efficient, nuanced, and responsive to the complexities of global communication. However, human translators will continue to play a key role in ensuring that translations are not only accurate but also culturally and contextually appropriate," the expert said.
In a way, the technology empowers translators as it enables them to do more sophisticated, high-value work, allowing them to focus on analyses and cultural insights.
"In the future, translators will increasingly act as post-editors, localisation experts, and advisors - bridging the gap between AI-generated text and the cultural, emotional, and contextual depth that only humans can provide," Gohar said.
For instance, in marketing and advertising, the trend of "trans-creation cultural adaptation" has gained prominence.
"This approach goes beyond literal translation, adapting messages to resonate emotionally with target audiences while preserving the original intent, style, and tone," he explained.
"It involves not only linguistic adjustments but also modifications in visuals, slogans, and overall messaging to align with cultural nuances."
Machine translation can be useful for basic or technical content, but the depth and artistry of literary works still require the human touch.
"Literary translation requires creativity, cultural insight, emotional sensitivity, and the ability to preserve the soul of the original work, areas where human translators excel. Human translators bring an artistic touch to literary works, making them the preferred choice for handling complex, creative, and culturally rich texts," Gohar said.
The process has evolved from a literal render to AI-infused workflows, requiring translators to keep up with the times.
"To stay relevant in the AI era, translators need to adapt and embrace technology while leveraging their unique human strengths," Gohar said.
Ethical Considerations
The use of AI in translation has also given rise to ethical concerns.
"The heavy use of AI in translation, content creation, and language processing raises important questions about its potential impact on linguistic identity," Gohar said.
"While AI offers significant advancements in communication and accessibility, there are concerns that its widespread use might threaten linguistic diversity and even the preservation of certain languages."
For Gohar, there are several ethical lines that AI should not cross, |particularly when it comes to respecting human dignity, cultural sensitivity, and privacy".
To tackle these issues, the expert supported the idea of coming up with a revised code of ethics for the profession.
"The increasing involvement of AI tools in the translation process requires adaptation. AI is significantly reshaping the future of interpreting and spontaneous translation, but human interpreters still play a crucial role," he said.
