Between Man and Machine: A Qualitative Case Study of Four Nineteenth-Century Novels in English–Arabic Literary Translation | ||
| مجلة کلية الآداب بالوادي الجديد | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 13 August 2025 | ||
| Document Type: بحوث علمية محکمة | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/mkwn.2025.405462.1572 | ||
| Author | ||
| SHAIMAA ELATEEK* | ||
| IMAM MOHAMMAD IBN SAUD ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY (IMSIU) | ||
| Abstract | ||
| : Literary translation has traditionally been regarded as a uniquely human craft. The advent of technological innovations in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, however, has significantly altered this landscape. The rise of Machine Translation (MT), Translation Memory (TM), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has shifted translation practices toward more mechanical and automated processes. This study evaluates the reliability of machine translation compared to human translation in the context of English-to-Arabic literary translation. Four classic novels—Pride and Prejudice, Dracula, Frankenstein, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland—were selected for comparative analysis using both MT/AI tools and human translators. Findings reveal that while MT and AI systems can generate acceptable translations in certain straightforward contexts, they frequently fail to convey the subtlety, literary style, and poetic qualities intrinsic to the original works. These shortcomings are particularly evident in the translation of nuanced language, tone, and cultural references. The study underscores the current limitations of MT technologies in faithfully rendering the artistic and aesthetic dimensions of literature. It concludes that, although MT and AI can serve as useful aids, human translators remain indispensable for preserving the literary integrity and creative essence of translated works. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Literary Translation; Machine Translation (MT); Artificial Intelligence (AI); Translation Memory (TM) | ||
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