Cross-cultural adaptation in translating popular science books

Cultural adaptation presents a significant challenge in translation, particularly when translating texts across diverse cultural contexts. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have introduced new approaches for translators to manage this issue, reshaping the way cultural adaptation is handled in various domains. This study investigates the role of human-centered artifical intelligence (HCAI) in improving translation quality, specifically in the context of translating popular science books. The research aims to explore how AI tools improve both the accuracy and fluency of the translation while maintaining the integrity of cultural features when applied to culturally- loaded content. In this study, the translation of culture-specific elements is initiated through machine translation. Subsequently, AI tools are employed for detecting and proofreading potential errors or inconsistencies, focusing on cultural adaptation. The case studies are drawn from a popular science book, providing a practical foundation for examining how AI tools assist translators in navigating the cultural challenges inherent to such texts. The findings reveal that while AI tools offer substantial support in managing the complexities of cultural adaptation, their effectiveness is optimized when they are used as complementary tools rather than as a replacement for human intervention. The research emphasizes that the translation process must remain fundamentally human-centered. Furthermore, the study underscores that while AI technologies can significantly improve efficiency and consistency, the human translator must retain a central role in ensuring that the translation meets the cultural and contextual expectations of the target audience. AI should be viewed as a supplementary tool that enhances the translator’s work so that cultural adaptation is both accurate and sensitive. This synergy between human translators and AI technology paves the way for more effective and high-quality cross-cultural communication and exchange. Overall, the utilization of AI tools in the translation process holds the potential to improve translation quality, but it must be applied within a framework that prioritizes human expertise and experience, particularly when addressing culturally specific content.

在翻译具有跨文化背景的文本时，如何进行有效的文化适应是翻译过程中 的一项重大挑战。人工智能（AI）技术为译者处理这一问题引入了新的方法，重 塑了各个领域处理文化适应的方式。研究旨在探讨当AI工具应用于具有文化负载 的内容时，如何在保持文化特征完整性的同时提高翻译的准确性和流畅性。作者 首先挑选有文化负载的内容，经机器翻译生成初始译文。随后，使用AI工具进行 检测和校对，重点识别潜在的错误或不一致之处，确保最终翻译具有高度的文化 适应性和准确性。案例研究选自一项科普读物翻译项目。研究结果表明，虽然AI 工具在处理翻译中复杂的文化适应问题时，提供了大量支持，但其功能仍然是一 种补充工具而非人工干预的替代品。虽然AI技术可以显著提高效率和一致性，但 人工译员必须保留核心作用，确保翻译符合目标受众的文化和语境期望。AI应被 视为一种增强工具，可加强译员的工作，帮助识别并处理文化适应性问题。总体 而言，在翻译过程中使用AI工具会提升译文的文化适应性，不过这些工具的应用 应当建立在充分发挥译员的专业知识和丰富经验的基础之上。