The Perception of Future Translators on Literary Machine Translation: Can Artificial Intelligence Capture the Complexity of a Text?

Abstract

This paper explores the results of a classroom based study conducted in the Bachelor’s Degree in Translation and Interpreting program at Universitat Jaume I. The aim is to analyze students’ perceptions of the use of machine  translation tools in translating literary texts. Through this qualitative study, the research examines how future translators evaluate the ability of these tools to capture the linguistic, stylistic, and cultural complexity inherent in literary works. The study not only assesses the technical accuracy of machine translation but also considers the interaction between machines and human translators in the literary field, as well as the implications these technologies may have for professional practice and translation education. Students exhibit an ambivalent perception of machine translation, acknowledging its utility but questioning its ability to capture literary nuances.