AI Versus Human Translators: Accuracy and Context in the Translation of Cultural Idioms and Proverbs

Abstract

Given the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of translation, ongoing debates persist in its ability to accurately interpret and convey cultural nuances particularly in idiomatic expressions and proverbs rich in rhetoric and metaphor. Such expressions frequently resist literal translation due to their deep connections to societal norms, values, and traditions. While AI-powered translation tools have significantly improved in linguistic accuracy, they often struggle with contextual understanding and cultural sensitivity, leading to failure in capturing the intended connotation of idioms and proverbs. This study investigates the comparative effectiveness of AI translation tools and human translators in rendering culturally bound idioms and proverbs with both linguistic accuracy and contextual fidelity. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, this study analyzes the translation of culturally significant idioms and proverbs from Arabic, Turkish, and Albanian into English. The expressions are translated by both AI tools (i.e., Google Translate ChatGPT and DeepL) and professional human translators. Linguistic experts and native speakers evaluate the outputs based on accuracy, coherence, and cultural appropriateness. The findings aim to contribute to the fields of translation studies and computational linguistics by offering insights into the limitations and potential improvements of AI translation tools in handling culturally embedded language.