The Science of Translation
MSc in Translation Technology
Machine translation (MT) makes news every day, and as such the profession of a translator may seem less attractive to students and young linguists as ever before. However, the increased use of machine translation leads to more and more translations being consumed, and it remains important to improve the quality of machine output continiously.
Translation was for many years defined as a study of arts and awarded with degrees from the Arts departments of many universities worldwide. And yet, a translator needs a lot of technical knowledge in order to be able to compete and to work satisfactorily.
This starts with basic knowledge of word processing tools, but by no means ends here. Translation technology, computer-aided translation (CAT) methods and tools, research methods, computational linguistics and corpus linguistics, computerised terminology and CAT/TM management and maintenance are equally important these days. When we add some translation theory, software localisation basics and an introduction to programming, we have a pretty neat description of what a translator may need to know in this technology-driven age, and this is exactly what Dublin City University offers its students for the first time in their MSc Translation Technology.
With the launch of the new, one-year full time course at DCU it is hoped to put a focus on what the profession still can do, compared to being put off by MT news every day. Senior Lecturer Dorothy Kenny states: “If there is a perception out there that machines can translate adequately, the danger is that people will think there is no point in humans learning how to translates. This would be very serious for the industry given that there is already a shortage of well-qualified translators in certain markets, despite the fact that pay and conditions are good.”
The MSc still teaches students translation theory and how to translate, but focusses on translation technology and computerised methods for translators.
Whether or not MT will ever replace HT (human translation) is a question that has been around for just as long as machine translation itself. Translators need to work with what technology offers just as anybody else, but if translators understand how this technology works, it is a step forward to using it and making the most of it.
Read more about MSc Translation Technology (PDF)
Read more about DCU School of Applied Languages
