Translations| Massively Open Translation: Unpacking the Relationship Between Technology and Translation in the 21st Century

Minako O'Hagan

Abstract


Globalization and translation go hand in hand because translation functions as a mechanism to enable global communication in an increasingly interconnected world. Within the technological trend set by Web 2.0 and its user-centeredness, translation practices began to incorporate an alternative scenario based on translation by self-selected volunteers. Under the framework of critical theory of technology, this article scrutinizes the development of translation as a mass, open, and collaborative task that I call massively open translation. Critical theory of technology is used to unpack the way in which technology is effecting a transformation of translation toward higher translator autonomy, uncovering the nature of the relationship between technology and translation.


Keywords


translation technology, critical theory of technology, translation profession, translation theory, open translation, crowdsourcing

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