Translation technology and human-machine interaction
José Gustavo Góngora-Goloubintseff, Silvia Terribile · 2025
Technological advances in machine translation (MT) are enabling more widespread human-machine interactions across nearly all areas of cross-lingual communication. With MT being increasingly integrated into human translation workflows, the translation profession is also experiencing profound transformations. To better understand these changes, this chapter centres the discussion on two key interrelated aspects of human-machine interaction. First, attention is paid to users’ attitudes towards MT and their role in shaping the interplay between users and technology. Research in this area has shown that users’ attitudes are context-dependent and largely influenced by their perception of MT output quality. The second part focuses on human-machine interactions stemming from the integration of MT into professional translation workflows. These interactions are co-shaped by technological developments as well as by individual and organisational factors such as translators’ skills and ways of working, ergonomic factors, and LSPs’ approaches to determining freelance translators’ remuneration. The chapter ends with a proposal to implement further regulation and training in the light of the opportunities and ethical challenges posed by emerging AI-powered technologies such as ChatGPT.