Translators and machine translation: knowledge and skills gaps in translator pedagogy

For translation graduates to serve as professional post-editors in the language industry, content must be embedded in multiple courses across the curriculum, rather than concentrating the material in a stand-alone course or module.

Abstract

Graduates of translation programmes increasingly encounter machine translation in the language industry. In response to this identified market need, translation education programmes have begun to incorporate machine translation into the curriculum. In order for translation graduates to serve as professional post-editors in the language industry, this content must be embedded in multiple courses across the curriculum, rather than concentrating the material in a stand-alone course or module. This article argues for the incorporation of terminology management, controlled authoring, post-editing, and engine tuning into translation practice courses to prepare students for the evolving market.