Paper Infomation
The Redefinition of Translators: Crises and Reconstructions of the Translation Profession in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
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Author: Yuchen Xiao
Abstract: With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, including neural machine translation and large language models, the language service industry is undergoing a profound transformation that reshapes both the structure and function of the translation profession. Driven by a “high-efficiency, low-cost” rationale, the traditional role of translators as linguistic mediators is increasingly marginalized, raising concerns about a possible weakening or even “disappearance” of their professional status. Drawing on a systematic review of the evolution of the translation profession and the process of translation industrialization, this study examines the multi-dimensional professional crises precipitated by AI’s impact on translators’ labor structures, skill sets, and identity. It further explores potential pathways for professional transformation and value reconstruction in the context of emerging technologies. The findings reveal that translators do not truly “disappear” within AI-driven translation workflows; rather, their professional functions are reconfigured, and their identities redefined. Translators progressively evolve from mere language converters into language service experts, undertaking composite tasks such as text optimization, contextual judgment, cultural adaptation, and terminology management. Against this backdrop, the study proposes a novel competency model for translators in AI-oriented contexts and puts forward multi-dimensional collaborative strategies—including educational reforms, platform-based system enhancements, and the updating of professional certifications—to facilitate a shift from “technical adaptation” to “collaborative leadership”. This research aims to provide both theoretical grounding and practical references for the re-establishment of translator agency, the transformation and upgrading of the language service industry, and the future development of translation education.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Translation Industrialization; Translator Redefinition; Professional Crisis; Human-Machine Collaboration; Post-Editing
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