“The positive impact of technology in translation”

Abstract

It is widely known that translators play a key role in the growing market for intercultural technical communication and it is already a fact that technology can assist them in several areas of their work. However, the use of technology in real translation working environments has not been developed to the fullest. Through this tiny research from the wide field of technology’s impact in translation, I aim to address to the issue of how the available technology tools can best be used to enhance the translators’ job and increase their efficiency without compromising their creativity or lowering the required quality of their products. This paper attempts to clarify the role technology plays in the translation profession, focusing mainly on looking at the positive impact of technology, despite of many questions and doubts. Some of us have embraced technology with a positive attitude as a new way of living and working, while others are skeptical and hesitate to accept a present where machines have already invaded our privacy. Regardless all the criticism, the fact is that all sectors of society are experiencing a series of ongoing changes due to technology. Needless to say, translation, as part of society, is inevitably being affected too by this global technology. Translation is both an industrial product and process, and its methods have to adapt to the new industry requirements. In this context, this paper suggests that translation professionals have to address these changes positively and accept that technology and computers are our friends and not our enemies.