Freelance translators and machine translation: an investigation of perceptions, uptake, experience and training needs

117 Freelance translators and machine translation: An investigation of perceptions, uptake, experience and training needs Heather Fulford Business School Loughborough University Loughborough Leics. LE11 3TU UK Email h.fulford@lboro.ac.uk Abstract An exploratory study has been initiated to determine the uptake of machine translation (MT) among UK freelance translators, to assess their perceptions and experience of it, and to identify their perceived MT training needs. preliminary analysis of findings suggestsA that, although the uptake of MT has, to date, been rather low in the freelance translation community, there was among the respondents a keen interest, to learn more about MT and to explore the possibility of using it more in their translation assignments. The respondents expressed a desire for MT training, with a particular preference for self-directed training material allowing experimentation with MT on ‘real’ assignments for their clients. Introduction Learners of machine translation (MT) systems in the UK today are likely to include not only trainee translators (typically undergraduate or post- graduate students undertaking translation studies degrees), but also existing translators, often operating in a freelance translation context. With regard to MT, these practitioners will tend to fall into one of three categories: • Their translation training did not contain an MT training element. • Their translation training contained training in MT theory and discussion of the ‘future possibility’ of MT, but no real exposure to, or hands-on experience with, MT systems. • Their translation training contained practical hands-on training in the use of MT. A uniting factor between translators in each of these categories is the high probability, given the recent progress in MT, that they will encounter MT in their professional work in one way or another, whether it be through being assigned post-editing work on texts translated using an MT system, or being requested by a client to use an MT system to produce draft translations for ‘information-only’ purposes, or whether it be that they 118 decide for themselves to incorporate the use of MT into their working environments. Traditionally translators have had a reputation for being rather sceptical regarding the efficacy of MT, with views being reported that range from mild amusement through to open hostility and fear. Such perceptions of MT are unlikely to aid the effective learning of MT, and are likely also to impede the successful introduction of MT into the professional translator’s working environment. In this paper, an exploratory investigation of freelance translators is presented in which their level of MT uptake has been determined, their views on MT assessed, and their MT training needs identified. Comparisons have been made between each of the three categories of translator outlined above, and relationships considered between levels of IT literacy/sophistication and perceptions of, and attitudes towards, MT. The underlying purpose of this exploratory study is to identify the post-qualification training needs of freelance translators in the MT area, with a view to feeding this information back to training providers, to relevant professional bodies (i.e. language and translation associations) and to MT software designers and developers. …

Content truncated to 500 words