The Distinctiveness of Literary Translation and the Role of the Translator in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Neural Machine Translation

Abstract

This article examines the distinctive nature of literary translation and the evolving role of the human translator in the era of artificial intelligence and neural machine translation. The study comparatively analyzes the capabilities and limitations of modern AI-based translation systems in rendering literary texts. Particular attention is paid to the translation of figurative language, metaphors, idiomatic expressions, cultural references, stylistic devices, emotional nuances, and the author's individual style, all of which present significant challenges for machine translation. The research also highlights the importance of human creativity in preserving aesthetic value, interpreting cultural context, making pragmatic decisions, and reproducing the artistic effect of the original text. Through the analysis of selected literary translation examples, the study identifies the similarities and differences between human and machine-generated translations and evaluates their respective strengths and weaknesses. The findings indicate that although neural machine translation significantly improves translation speed and provides useful preliminary drafts, it cannot fully reproduce the artistic, emotional, and cultural dimensions of literary works without human intervention. Literary translation requires not only linguistic competence but also creative interpretation and intercultural awareness. Therefore, the paper argues that the future of literary translation lies in a collaborative hybrid model in which artificial intelligence supports professional translators rather than replacing them, ensuring both translation efficiency and the preservation of literary quality.