Effect of Technological Developments on Ethical Position of Translator

Luis Miguel Dos Santos

doi:10.5539/ells.v6n3p42

Abstract

<p>The objective of this essay is to examine and discuss the effect of recent technological developments on ethical position of translator. The associations between technology and the process of translation is a section of the greater discussion regarding the impacts that technology has on language. Presently, the career of interpreting and translating and its different branches, for example localization, are alleged to be under amplified threat from technological developments and practices such as crowdsourcing (Baker &amp; Maier, 2011). The importance currently assigned to the effects of recent technology on the ethical position of the translator emanates from the fact that there are currently several emergent translation technologies, for example, collaborative translation management systems, translation memories and data-based machine translation, which transform the social links, professional views and thought patterns of the translator (Pym, 2001). In addition to examining the relationship between technology and translation, this essay will also assess the ethical questions posed by technology for translators. At the end of the essay are a conclusive summary of the entire discussion and an alphabetical list of the references cited herein.</p>

Highlights

1.1 Technology and TranslationFor many years, technology has restructured the theory and practice of translation in different ways
The importance currently assigned to the effects of recent technology on the ethical position of the translator emanates from the fact that there are currently several emergent translation technologies, for example, collaborative translation management systems, translation memories and data-based machine translation, which transform the social links, professional views and thought patterns of the translator (Pym, 2001)
Apart from causing translators and interpreters to increasingly adopt digital set-ups in textual productions, Malmkjaer (2005) posits that technological developments influence translators to carry out their work through the use of computerized devices such as translation memory databases and automatic translation systems (Venuti, 1998)

Summary

Technology and Translation

Technology has restructured the theory and practice of translation in different ways. Crowdsourcing refers to a type of community lobbied translation which is utilized by large online groups based on sites such as Facebook, TED and Twitter (Baker & Maier, 2011). Despite the prevalent use of technological developments in the field of translation, and their perceived usability benefits in presenting readers with a general understanding of content in foreign languages, Pym (2011) argues that the “text generated by such software can in no way be considered as the equivalent of a true translation” In real essence a majority of translators in the contemporary day do not support the notion of engaging in real time translation since they are more used to investing significant amounts of time in carefully researching translation terminologies and reviewing their work in similar to all other writers (Venuti, 1998)

Translation and Ethics

Technology and Translator Ethics

Conclusion