Toward a Generative AI Turn in Translation and Interpreting Studies

This book traces developments in the automatisation of translation and interpreting processes from a theoretical angle. The author argues that the impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence on the language industry is so profound that a new turn in translation and interpreting theory is imminent. This paradigmatic shift, labelled the GenAI turn, goes beyond the mere technological advancement of computer-assisted translation and requires a reassessment of agency, in particular the role of the human in translation and interpreting. A succinct discussion of turns in translation and interpreting studies, machine translation, translation technology, ethics, data privacy, large language models, and the “human in the loop” concept, culminates in coining the term “humane translation” to highlight the human dimension of the increasingly artificial and automatised translation practice. This book will be of interest to anyone curious about exploring the potential of AI in the language industry, including researchers and practitioners in the field of Translation Studies.