Document Type : Research Paper
Author
University of Birjand, Iran
Abstract
As technological developments, such as artificial intelligence or large language models, are rapidly transforming the profession of translation, the emotional vulnerability of translators has remained largely underexplored. Adopting vulnerability as a conceptual lens, this study examines the psychological and emotional experience of five Iranian translators working across diverse fields (e.g., subtitling and legal translation) and employment statuses (freelance, in-house, seasoned, or newbie) by analyzing data collected from oral and written narratives. Results suggested that technological developments in the translation industry create vulnerabilities in translators, triggering both positive emotions (admiration, excitement, satisfaction, and confidence) and negative emotions (uncertainty, frustration, anxiety, and fear). In other words, some translators experienced or perceived a sense of insecurity in certain scenarios, especially in the translation of academic and scientific content, where artificial intelligence is demonstrating particular capabilities. In contrast, some translators did not feel insecure about the rise of artificial intelligence; rather, they proactively embraced its potential and leveraged its capabilities to enhance their work.
Keywords
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