The study, titled “Translating Culture-Specific Items: A Comparative Analysis of Human and Artificial Intelligence Translations,” investigates the effectiveness of AI in translating culturally specific terms. The research compares translations produced by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and human translators, using Sugar Street by Naguib Mahfouz as the primary source text. The authors state that “translations were evaluated qualitatively based on accuracy, cultural context preservation, and overall coherence.” Their findings highlight that “Gemini demonstrated a notable effectiveness in conveying cultural items compared to ChatGPT.” However, they emphasize that “post-editing remains essential to address any translation flaws and inaccuracies.”
The literature review discusses various studies on machine translation (MT), noting that early AI translations were “simple word-swapping exercises,” which led to significant limitations in preserving cultural context. While AI models have improved, “MT exhibits many challenges to accurately convey cultural nuances, metaphors, and humor.” Scholars argue that despite AI’s advancements, human intervention is necessary to ensure “fidelity, intelligibility, and style.”
The study employs a case study research design, analyzing “nine excerpts of cultural items” from Sugar Street translated by ChatGPT, Gemini, and human translators. The results show that “human translators consistently preserved cultural nuances through transliteration,” whereas ChatGPT “often produced literal translations that failed to convey intended meanings.” Gemini, in contrast, “provided explanations and cultural context,” making it the more effective AI model for translating culturally specific terms.
The conclusion stresses that AI translation technology is advancing but still requires human oversight. The authors suggest that “future research should examine how particular translation theories, such as functional theories, can direct AI training to enhance its cultural sensitivity.” They further argue that “AI should be seen as a complementary tool rather than a substitute for human translators.”
Source: Translating Culture Specific Items: A Comparative Analysis of Human and Artificial Intelligence Translations
Authors: Ezzoubeyr Mehassouel & Noussaiba Djeha