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Article published In: Translation Spaces
Vol. 14:1 (2025) ► pp.74–98

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Exploring the ethical perspectives of translation students and professional translators on translation technology

A Q-methodological study

ORCiD logo with link | Fudan University | National University of Singapore
Published online: 11 March 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ts.24021.li
Abstract
This study adopts Q methodology to explore the ethical perspectives of translation students and professional translators on translation technology. It reveals four salient viewpoints among the two groups, i.e., “Boldness with Tradition,” “Relativism in Intersection,” “Empowerment without Agency,” and “Optimism and Social Darwinism,” and finds that the two groups differ in perspectives on clients’ interest, human translation’s sustainability, the humanist values of translation, and communication of technological usage. A shared acceptance of technology driven by social responsibility is also identified across the two groups. The findings suggest that despite the ethical divide between the two groups, lack of ethical knowledge may also exist on the professional side. Considering gap but also bridge, it is argued that the revealed consensus between the two groups offers a foundation for dialogue, where translation education and industry can converge to build a more inclusive ethical vision that encompasses a wider range of stakeholders.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Methodology
    • 2.1Overview of Q methodology
    • 2.2Research ethics
    • 2.3Q-set development
    • 2.4Selecting the P-set
    • 2.5Q-sorting
    • 2.6Factor analysis and interpretation
  • 3.Findings
    • 3.1Ethical perspectives of the students
    • 3.2Ethical perspectives of professional translators
    • 3.3Intergroup differences
    • 3.4Intergroup similarities
  • 4.Discussion
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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