Role of AI in Translation of English Language and Literature in Contemporary World

Abstract

This research presents a comprehensive investigation into the transformative and contentious role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly Neural Machine Translation (NMT) and Large Language Models (LLMs), in the translation of English language and literature within the contemporary global landscape. It moves beyond a simplistic tool-based analysis to interrogate AI’s profound impact on the very philosophy, practice, and economics of translation. The study examines the unprecedented speed, scalability, and accessibility AI affords, democratizing cross-lingual communication and facilitating the global flow of English-language content. Simultaneously, it delves into the core challenges: the erosion of nuance, cultural transposition, stylistic fidelity, and the existential threat to the human translator’s craft, especially in literary domains where meaning is layered and aesthetic. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research analyzes comparative translations (AI vs. human) of diverse English texts—from technical manuals to modernist poetry—to evaluate fidelity, fluency, and cultural adequacy. It further explores the evolving paradigm of the "translator as curator and post-editor" and the emergence of AI as a collaborative creative partner. The paper argues that AI has not replaced human translation but has irrevocably redefined it, creating a new hybrid ecology. The conclusion posits that the future of translation lies not in competition but in a synergistic partnership, where AI handles the brute force of linguistic transfer and the human intellect provides the cultural intelligence, creative judgment, and ethical oversight necessary for translating not just words, but worlds.