Why AI Cannot Replace Human Translators: A Short Perspective Through Translation Studies with Examples from Children’s Literature

Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly through neural machine translation systems such as Google Translate and DeepL, has made remarkable advancements in translation. These developments have raised the question, "Will translators be unnecessary in the future?" However, even in this era of rapid AI progress, the answer to this question, as even AI itself demonstrates, is a resounding "no." Despite technological advancements, AI still lacks the creativity, cultural sensitivity, and contextual understanding that human translators possess. This is most evident in the field of literary translation. This article examines why AI cannot replace human translators in the present or the future, using translation of children's literature as a focal point.

As emphasized by Antoine Berman (1989), translation is not merely a linguistic activity but also a cultural and interpretive act. Translators engage deeply with the cultural discourses embedded in the source text, aiming to preserve its essence while adapting it to the target audience's cultural framework (Berman, 1989). AI, despite its linguistic capabilities, lacks the cultural intelligence necessary to interpret and adapt cultural references and idiomatic expressions for the intended audience.

In the realm of translation of children's literature, translating fairy tale elements, wordplay, proverbs, idioms, and cultural markers requires creativity and an intimate understanding of the target culture. Cecilia Alvstad (2010) highlights the importance of retaining the child reader’s engagement while balancing cultural differences. AI often falls short of recognizing or adapting these elements effectively, leading to a loss of meaning or cultural insensitivity.

Hans Vermeer’s Skopos theory emphasizes that the purpose of a translation determines its strategies (Vermeer, 1989). In the translation of children's literature, translators adapt texts to align with the developmental and cultural contexts of the target audience. As discussed by Yurdanur Salman (2003), the translation often involves intertextual references. Translation of children's literature is rich in intertextuality, frequently referencing folklore, mythology, or canonical works. Jeremy Munday (2008) explains that Katharina Reiss’s text types demand attention to the function of a text. Children’s stories, being expressive and often operative, require emotional and imaginative engagement. As Cecilia Alvstad (2010) argues, translators must understand the dual readership of children’s literature—addressing both the child reader and the adult intermediary. AI systems, which process language in a linear and literal fashion, lack the holistic understanding necessary to achieve this balance.

Işın Bengi Öner (1999) emphasizes the ethical responsibilities of translators in ensuring that literary translations respect the integrity of the original work while being accessible and meaningful to the target audience. In the translation of children's literature, this includes attention to rhyme, rhythm, and tone, which are critical to maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the narrative. AI, limited by its algorithmic nature, struggles to preserve such stylistic intricacies.

As James Holmes (1988) notes, translation studies underscore the complexity of translation as a multidimensional activity encompassing linguistic, cultural, and aesthetic considerations. These qualities make human translators indispensable, particularly in preserving the richness and integrity of translation of children's literature.