Culturalistics: Journal of Cultural, Literary, and Linguistic Studies
Vol 10, No 1 (2026): Culturalistics: Journal of Cultural, Literary, and Linguistics Studies (June 20

Novice Translators’ Perceptions of AI-Assisted Translation

Sulistya Ningrum (Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya)
Almira Fidela Artha (Universitas Airlangga)
Tahan Sihombing (Politeknik Negeri Medan)
Serli Meilina (Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya)
Mutiara Ramadhani (Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jun 2026

Abstract

This study investigates how novice translators perceive and engage with AI-assisted translation tools, emphasizing their emerging AI literacy and its impact on translation learning. Twelve undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory translation course participated in semi-structured interviews, sharing their experiences with tools such as Google Translate, DeepL, ChatGPT, and Gemini. Data were analyzed thematically to identify patterns in tool usage, perceived benefits and concerns, and attitudes toward AI’s role in learning. The findings indicate that novice translators actively experiment with multiple AI tools, often combining them strategically to support vocabulary, grammar, phrasing, and text naturalness. Participants appreciated AI’s efficiency and scaffolding potential but expressed concerns about overreliance, skill erosion, cultural inaccuracies, and ethical or privacy issues. Despite these concerns, they consistently viewed AI as a supportive resource rather than a replacement for manual translation, emphasizing the importance of human judgment, critical evaluation, and post-editing. Instructor guidance also played a role in shaping responsible AI use, with mixed stances encouraging careful, reflective engagement. The study underscores the need for translation curricula to incorporate AI literacy, enabling learners to leverage AI’s benefits while maintaining foundational skills, autonomy, and ethical awareness. These insights highlight the potential for human-centered, hybrid approaches in AI-integrated translation education.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

culturalistics

Publisher

Subject

Humanities

Description

Culturalistics: Journal of Cultural, Literary, and Linguistic Studies is a peer-reviewed triannual scientific journal published by Department of Linguistics, Diponegoro University, Indonesia. It publishes articles in the field of cultural, literary, and linguistic ...