WHEN AI MEETS CULTURE: STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF TRANSLATING AND INTERPRETING ARTICLE WITH CULTURAL TERMS

Abstract

 This study explores English Literature students’ perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) in translating and interpreting cultural terms, focusing on Makassarnese expressions embedded in scientific articles. Conducted in the Translating Scientific Texts course at Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM), the research involved 98 participants who engaged in a classroom project combining AI translation and critical reflection. Students were first provided with an article containing Makassarnese cultural terms and asked to translate it literally. They were then instructed to use their chosen AI translation tools, such as Google Translate, DeepL, or ChatGPT, to retranslate the same text. This process enabled students to directly compare their own renderings with AI-generated outputs and observe how cultural nuances were (mis)interpreted. Data on students’ perceptions were collected through a Google Forms survey, which investigated their recognition of AI’s limitations and their evolving attitudes toward AI-assisted translation. Findings reveal that while students acknowledged the efficiency and accessibility of AI tools, they also identified significant shortcomings in handling cultural-specific terms, metaphors, and contextual meanings. Students concluded that AI translation remains limited in cultural sensitivity and requires human interpretive intervention. The study suggests that incorporating AI critically in translation pedagogy fosters student awareness of both the potential and the boundaries of technology, while emphasizing the enduring value of human cultural competence in translation practice.