Distinguished Lectures in Humanities: Resisting and Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in the Technologized Translation and Interpreting Classroom

Abstract

The rapid development of artificial intelligence and large language models have led to the language industry and translation and interpreting education programs re-imagining how to engage with these technologies. While some language industry stakeholders seek to leverage these tools to support the provision of language services and language access, others have sought to resist this technological incursion on ethical and professional grounds. The impact of these tools is undoubtedly far reaching, to the point that trainers and educators must now respond to these developments. This talk reviews some of the ways in which artificial intelligence, large language models, and translation and interpreting technologies can be leveraged in educational and training programs while offering possible means to resist uncritical adoption of these tools. The talk provides suggestions on how university programs can prepare future graduates to interface with these technologies and drive ethical and responsible technology use.

About the speaker

Christopher D. MELLINGER is Associate Professor in the Department of Languages, Cultures and Translation at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Dr MELLINGER holds a Ph.D. in Translation Studies from Kent State University, as well as certificates in Spanish-English interpreting and Spanish Translation/Localization Management from Wake Forest University. He is the editor of The Routledge Handbook of Interpreting and Cognition, co-author of Quantitative Research Methods in Translation and Interpreting Studies, and co-editor of Translating Texts: An Introductory Coursebook on Translation and Text Formation. He currently serves on the management committee of the international TREC research network and as the co-editor of the journal Translation and Interpreting Studies.