AI IN LITERARY TRANSLATION: PRESERVATION OR ERASURE OF CULTURAL NUANCE
Keywords:
Artificial intelligence in translation, literary translation, neural machine translation (NET), cultural nuance, idioms and metaphors, stylistic flattening, machine vs. Human translation, translation ethics.Abstract
This study examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in literary translation with a focus on whether it preserves or erases cultural nuance. While neural machine translation (NMT) has advanced significantly, concerns persist regarding its capacity to capture metaphors, idiomatic expressions, and culturally embedded meanings. Using a comparative framework, the research analyzes selected case studies where AI-generated translations are compared against human translations in terms of fidelity, creativity, and cultural resonance. Findings suggest that AI systems tend to streamline or neutralize culturally specific references, prioritizing fluency over nuance. This creates a tension between accessibility and authenticity: while AI accelerates the translation process, it risks homogenizing literary voices across languages. The discussion highlights both the potential of hybrid human-AI collaboration and the ethical questions surrounding the loss of authorial intent and cultural diversity. Ultimately, the paper argues that AI in literary translation is best understood not as a replacement for human translators but as a tool that requires critical intervention to safeguard cultural richness in global literary circulation.
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