AI and Translation

With AI translation tools like Google Translate and DeepL getting faster and smarter every year, it’s easy to wonder: Is it worth studying languages when machines can do the work for us? Can they truly replace the nuanced, culturally rich understanding that comes from learning a language? Are they sensitive to the many subtleties of meaning that native speakers would naturally perceive?

In our talk we’ll dive into these fascinating questions. As language teachers we bring a unique perspective on this topic, having known Translation studies before the advent of AI and seeing its increasing impact on current student cohorts who are exploring and making use of translation technology.

Imagine you’re translating a simple sentence from one language to another. A machine may translate a text literally, but it often misses the layers of deeper meaning, like emotions, irony, or metaphors. Think about slang or jokes that only make sense if you know something about a certain place or community. AI can’t pick up on these layers because it hasn’t lived within that culture, doesn’t know its people and hasn’t experienced its traditions and idiosyncrasies.

So, is learning languages still worth it? We believe the answer is a definite “yes!” Learning a language is like gaining a passport to understanding the world in new ways.

Paul Hoegger is a Senior Teaching Associate at the University of Cambridge, Bye Fellow, Director of Studies and Tutor at Fitzwilliam College. He is also Coordinator for German at the Language Centre of the University where he has developed a range of courses, from German for Archive Work, over the German Advanced level to the C1 German Film- and Literature course. Paul’s particular teaching interests lie in Translation Studies and Academic Reading courses.

Professor Silke Mentchen has been teaching German as a foreign language at tertiary level since 1994. She is a fellow, Director of Studies, and tutor at Magdalene College, and oversees the German curriculum for undergraduate courses at the MMLL Faculty. Her teaching interests include translation studies and beginner language courses. She has developed online German grammar materials, co-written textbooks, and published on language teaching methodology. Silke is involved in international networks focused on language teaching and learning and actively promotes language learning in schools, collaborating with teachers on various initiatives.