Interactions of Institutional Translators with Digital Translation Tools

Authors : Büşra Kurt Uçar, Sinem Sancaktaroğlu Bozkurt
Pages : 61-87
Doi:10.37599/ceviri.1664272
View : 105 | Download : 209
Publication Date : 2025-07-31
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Digitalisation manifests itself in various ways in different business sectors, and translation sector experiences it through its (semi-)automated translation processes due to digital technologies that include computer-aided translation (CAT) tools as well as machine translation (MT) and artificial intelligence (AI) software. It could be argued that the translators are the most affected social actors in this environment although it should be underlined that there are other social actors such as colleagues or employers. Domination of digital translation technologies, as the technical actors, has a powerful effect on shaping the network within which translators operate. Depending on this hypothesis, this paper aims to illuminate and explore perceptions of institutional translators in Türkiye about digital translation tools as well as interactions between these human and non-human actors in light of actor-network theory (ANT) proposed by Callon, Latour and Law. The effects of digital technologies on institutional translators have been investigated via an online questionnaire (N=29) and online interviews with three institutional translators. Although the number of questionnaire participants is limited, it was aimed to increase validity with qualitative data from interviews. It is found that digital translation tools are predominantly perceived indispensable for institutional translators, the alliances forged with these tools are generally well-accepted and valued, and intermediaries such as budget, skills, competencies, teamwork and digital tools contribute to the self-positioning of translators within a heterogeneous network. While obligatory passage points and intermediaries change based on conditions, digital translation tools are generally evaluated positively in individual occupational networks; however, the translators tend to perceive the effects more negatively when broader networks involving other social actors are in question.
Keywords : dijital çeviri araçları, aktör-ağ kuramı, insan ve insan dışı aktörler, çevirmen sosyolojisi, kurum çevirmenleri

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