Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Postdoctoral Fellowship - DUAL-T

Introduction

“Developing User-Centred Approaches to Technological Innovation in Literary Translation (DUAL-T)” is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship project focusing on user-led technology-inclusive workflows in literary translation.

The research will be conducted by Dr Paola Ruffo under the supervision of Professor Lieve Macken and the co-supervision of Professor Joke Daems. The book translation company Nuanxed will also be involved as an Associated Partner of the project, in an effort to involve industry, as well as practitioners, in research on technological innovation in translation.

The project will have a duration of two years, from September 2022 to August 2024.

Project description

Recent years have seen a growing research interest on the application of translation technology to literary translation workflows, mostly in the form of Machine Translation (MT) or post-editing of MT output. In these studies, literary translators' voices are virtually absent. This project will address the discrepancy between research in Computer Science/AI and Translation Studies, as well as the absence of literary translators from the conversation surrounding technological innovation in their profession. It will do so by proactively integrating literary translators' input in the co-creation of a new technology-inclusive workflow.

Professional literary translators will be asked to perform literary translation tasks using (1) MT + post-editing, (2) a Computer-Aided Translation (CAT) tool environment, (3) a CAT tool environment with integrated MT. User testing will be performed using eye tracking, keystroke logging and screen capturing. In-depth interviews and focus groups will be conducted before and after the translation task to register changes in participants' attitudes towards technology before and after using it, as well as advantages and pain points of the tool employed.

By crossing disciplinary boundaries and centring literary translators’ narratives, this study intends to ultimately carve a new path for the coexistence of literary translation’s most creative and human components and state-of-the-art translation technology arising from a shifting socio-technological paradigm. End-users’ personal narratives will actively inform the tools’ evaluation process to co-create a workflow where technology works with literary translators rather than instead of them.

Objectives

The main objectives of DUAL-T are to:

  • devise a technology-inclusive literary translation workflow employing a user-led approach;
  • assess whether and to what extent translation technology can enhance literary translators (particularly CAT tools as an alternative to MT-centric approaches);
  • mediate a dialogue between literary translators and translation technology developers.

Role of Ghent University

Ghent University will provide the necessary training and resources for the development and completion of the project, particularly through the Language and Translation Technology Team (LT3)’s expertise and state-of-the-art user testing equipment.

Website

DUAL-T

Contact

Dr. Paola Ruffo
Department of Translation, Interpreting and Communication
Language and Translation Technology Team (LT3)
e-mail 

Prof. Lieve Macken
Department of Translation, Interpreting and Communication
Language and Translation Technology Team (LT3)
e-mail

Prof. Joke Daems
Department of Translation, Interpreting and Communication
Language and Translation Technology Team (LT3)
e-mail  

Funding info

vlag plat funded by the eu.JPG

Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the authority can be held responsible for them.