CfP MonTI 18 (2026)

Artificial intelligence at the service of translation: research on new technological achievements

In one of the first references to the possibility of interaction between the human translator and the computer, Martin Kay (1980) introduced the idea of the translation workstation. At the time, this proposal, which came from Xerox, one of the leading laboratories in translation technology research, represented a milestone that would soon become a key reference. The workstation concept introduced some ideas that were to take form shortly afterwards: a single workspace from which the translator could access electronic dictionaries, with the possibility of reusing previously translated materials in context (Kay, 1980: 21-22). At this point, the use of machine translation, despite almost 30 years of research in laboratories, was still ruled out given the impossibility of producing translations that could be used in real settings.

With time, and as a consequence of scientific developments in different disciplines such as computational linguistics, computer science, statistics and, more recently, artificial intelligence (AI), we might speak of a paradigm shift (Sakamoto, Evans & Torres-Hostench, 2018). Recent developments in AI lead us to reconsider the act of translation and the role played by humans in relation to the machine (Kenny, 2022). Thus, from the perspective of Translation Studies, we should take a positive look at the challenges posed by the socio-digital transformation (Rozmysłowicz, 2023), and ask ourselves, from a balanced perspective, about the effects derived from the high level of technologisation in translation (Moorkens, 2023; Bowker, 2020).

This volume is conceived as a framework for a dispassionate analysis of the different challenges affecting Translation Studies in view of the recent developments in AI. The human factor is, in any case, understood as critical in any translation process. The monograph is divided into two major complementary themes. On the one hand, the exploration of what AI is and what certainties and uncertainties it brings to the translation sector. On the other, the examination of how these developments lead us to consider "other ways of translating". Based on the acknowledgement that AI is already present in many areas of society, this volume focuses on offering an optimistic view of the advantages of AI and the progress that this technology involves for the translation work.

 

Topics of interest

• New technological advances generated by the development of AI: tools, changes in the translation process and project management.
• Quality assurance and evaluation of AI-generated translations.
• AI and the professional profiles of translators.
• Ethical and professional issues, normative regulation related to the use of AI in the professional field.
• Addressing possible biases in the use of AI-based technologies.
• The professional dimension of AI integration: implications for the translator's profession.

 

 

References

Bowker, L. (2020). “Translation technology and ethics.” In: K. Koshinen & N. K. Pokorn (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Ethics (pp. 262-300). Routledge.

Kay, M. (1980). The Proper Place of Men and Machines in Language Translation. https://aclanthology.org/www.mt-archive.info/70/Kay-1980.pdf

Kenny, D. (2022). “Human and machine translation.” In: D. Kenny (ed.), Machine translation for everyone: Empowering users in the age of artificial intelligence (pp. 23-49). Language Science Press.

Moorkens, J.  (2023). “‘I am not a number’: on quantification and algorithmic norms in translation.” Perspectives, https://doi.org/10.1080/0907676X.2023.2278536

Rozmysłowicz, T.  (2023). “The politics of machine translation. Reprogramming translation studies.” Perspectives, https://doi.org/10.1080/0907676X.2023.2292571

Sakamoto, A.; J. Evans & O. Torres-Hostench (2018). “Introduction to the Special Dossier Section ‘Translation and Disruption’.” Tradumàtica. Tecnologies de la Traducció, 16, 52-58. https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/tradumatica.223

 

Important dates and deadlines for submission

Authors interested in participating in this issue should submit the full text of the manuscript in one of the official languages of the journal (English, Catalan, Spanish, French, Italian or German) via MonTI website by 31 May 2025. Proposals must include a title and a 150-word abstract both in English and in a second language chosen from among the official languages of the journal. In October-November 2025, the journal will communicate its decision. For those manuscripts written in a language other than English, the author will be asked to submit a version in English before the publication of the volume. The expected publication date is 31 May 2026.

 

Contact details

Queries related to the scientific content of the volume may be addressed to any of the publishers in the following languages: Catalan, English, French and Spanish.

Diana González Pastor: diana.gonzalez@uv.es

Celia Rico Pérez: celrico@ucm.es