Traditionally, market-established technology was developed to increase productivity, and professional translators would take advantage of these programmes and incorporate them into their workflow. In other words, language and translation experts could grasp technology breakthroughs, link them to their regular work requirements, and internalise them. However, current AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP)-based technologies do not support 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 implement them.

  • To create training materials that help language and translation professionals and students utilise current technologies. Special attention will be given to language and translation trainers, including university instructors and lifelong learning educators. The project will provide resources on integrating these technologies into lectures, a process initially tested by the participating organizations.

  • 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 their feedback into account before completing the project. 

LT-LiDER’s outputs will be based on the needs identified following a series of interviews with translation stakeholders touching on predefined themes. The outputs include an edited open-access book and a series of videos to provide a technical introduction and hands-on scenario-based applications. We hope that creating these resources and their dissemination will help to update translation programmes and enhance graduates’ employability.