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Not lost in translation: The implications of machine translation technologies for language professionals and for broader society

Author

Listed:
  • Francesca Borgonovi
  • Justine Hervé
  • Helke Seitz

Abstract

The paper discusses the implications of recent advances in artificial intelligence for knowledge workers, focusing on possible complementarities and substitution between machine translation tools and language professionals. The emergence of machine translation tools could enhance social welfare through enhanced opportunities for inter-language communication but also create new threats because of persisting low levels of accuracy and quality in the translation output. The paper uses data on online job vacancies to map the evolution of the demand for language professionals between 2015 and 2019 in 10 countries and illustrates the set of skills that are considered important by employers seeking to hire language professionals through job vacancies posted on line.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesca Borgonovi & Justine Hervé & Helke Seitz, 2023. "Not lost in translation: The implications of machine translation technologies for language professionals and for broader society," OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers 291, OECD Publishing.
  • Handle: RePEc:oec:elsaab:291-en
    DOI: 10.1787/e1d1d170-en
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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