Traditionally, market-established technology was developed to aid tasks conducted by humans. Professionals would take advantage of the support provided by these programmes and would incorporate them in their working process. In other words, language and translation experts could grasp technology breakthroughs, link them to their regular work requirements, and internalise them. However, this is no longer the case today. Currently, AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP)-based technologies do not give support to humans in the same way as Computer Assisted Tools (CAT) did. Instead, they modify digital language processes, making it very difficult for language experts to understand their intent and purpose. 

The LT-LiDER project

The LT-LiDER project is inspired primarily by two purposes

  • It aims to map the landscape of technological capabilities required to work as a language and/or translation expert.
  • It aims to generate training outputs that will help language and translation trainers improve their skills and adopt appropriate pedagogical approaches and strategies for integrating technology into their language or translation classrooms.

LT-LiDER has three main objectives that will result in several concrete outputs:

  • To raise awareness among language and translation experts (professionals and trainers) about the importance of understanding current technologies and learning how to apply them.

  • To create training materials to assist language and translation professionals and students in applying current technologies. Language and translation trainers (both university instructors and long-life learning trainers) will be given special attention. The project will include training materials on how to incorporate these technologies into lectures, a process tested by the participant organisations to start with.

  • To disseminate results from the early stages of the project to ensure reaching the target audience, attracting their attention to the project’s outputs, and taking audience feedback into account before completing the project. 

LT-LiDER will produce outputs on predefined themes, calibrated to the needs of translation stakeholders following a series of interviews. These outputs include an edited open-access book and accompanying video, with a technical introduction and hands-on scenario-based applications. We hope that the outcome of these outputs and their dissemination will help translation programmes update and enhance employability of graduates.