Journal of Translation and Language Studies

Developing AI Chatbots for Comedic Persona Preservation in Russian Translation: Kevin Hart (ESFP) and Louis C.K. (INFP)

2026-05-11T18:57:16+00:00

The fast-paced development of artificial intelligence has opened up new frontiers in the field of translation studies, but yet the conveyance of comedic discourse remains a key problem. Humor is a matter not just of language but of comedic timing, of the individual performer’s style, and of the societal expectations of the audience. The present work is devoted to the creation of individualized AI chatbots to keep the humorous identity when translating stand-up into Russian. The study investigates two conflicting types of comedy from the MBTI psycholinguistic typology: Kevin Hart’s expressive extraversion (ESFP) and Louis C. K.’s reflective self-irony (INFP). Using mixed methods, the authors compare the main language model (ChatGPT) with a custom chatbot (built on the Google Gemini API) trained through prompt engineering. The results indicate that the traditional machine tends to over-euphemize and lose pragmatics, while the personalized AI successfully adopts direct, adaptive and selective translation tactics. The bespoke model, addressing the challenge of non-normative vocabulary and culturally distinct realities, considering the local context of the Gen Z youth audience in Kazakhstan, statistically achieves the level of professional human translation. The research shows that the algorithmic use of psycholinguistic characteristics promotes the pragmatic equivalence and authenticity of translation, notwithstanding the observed restrictions concerning the possibility of pragmatic “over-localization.

Controlling Translation Purpose through Prompt Engineering: A Skopos-Based Study of AI Poetry Translation

2026-06-03T08:04:06+00:00

Large language models (LLMs) have rapidly expanded the horizon of AI-assisted literary translation, yet the mechanisms of how prompts construct translation purpose are theoretically underexplored. This study, based on Vermeer’s Skopos Theory, conceptualizes prompts as a “digital translation brief” and examines the systematic regulation of four function-oriented prompts: baseline (P0), reader-oriented (P1), form-oriented (P2), and culture-oriented (P3) in DeepSeek’s translation strategies for English-to-Indonesian poetry translation, with Emily Dickinson’s Hope is the Thing with Feathers as the source text. The study finds, through comparative close reading across the four prompt conditions, as well as against two published human translations, that each prompt orientation produces distinct and observable shifts in diction, imagery construction and formal expression: P1 sacrifices collocational stability for literary register and emotional intensity at the expense of; P2 replicates structure but risks over-compliance which undermines target-reader adequacy; P3 allows discourse-level metaphorical coordination and selective dependence on the source-text. Human translators’ choices emerge from cultural memory, aesthetic intentionality, and poetic agency. DeepSeek’s functional adaptability is largely a matter of probabilistic generation and prompt compliance. The findings re-conceptualize prompts not only as technical input instructions, but as purposive regulators of translation, offering a translation-theoretic framework for analysing LLM behaviour and practical guidance for designing Skopos-informed prompts for AI-assisted literary translation.

An Analytical Study of Lexical Challenges Encountered in Translating Selected Football Expressions by English Undergraduate Students at Yemeni Universities

2026-06-14T20:35:51+00:00

This study investigates the lexical challenges and translation strategies employed by Yemeni undergraduate students when rendering specialized English football terminology into Arabic, focusing on non-equivalence and the effectiveness of Mona Baker’s (2018) compensatory strategies. A purposive sample of 30 senior students from Taiz University, Ibb University, and the University of Science and Technology (UST) participated in the research. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study employed a translation test consisting of 20 isolated terms and 6 contextualized terms to evaluate the impact of textual clues on accuracy. Findings reveal significant conceptual barriers, especially regarding metaphorical and idiomatic expressions; while technical terms like “Stadium” saw high success, performance declined sharply for metaphors such as “Park the bus.” Statistical analysis shows an overall success rate of 65.2%. Furthermore, the results refute the hypothesis of male superiority, as female students consistently outperformed males by applying systematic academic strategies like paraphrasing. Institutionally, Taiz University students demonstrated greater flexibility in functional strategies, whereas UST students favored technical borrowing. The study concludes that translational competence in specialized fields is an acquired academic skill rather than a gender-based interest. Consequently, the study recommends integrating English for Specific Purposes (ESP) modules into translation curricula to better prepare students for the technical demands of sports media.

Poe’s "Al-Aaraaf": A Critical Analysis of Culture-Bound Borrowing in Literary Diction

2026-06-10T10:44:27+00:00

This paper examines Edgar Allan Poe’s unique use of literary borrowing in the title of his longest poem, "Al-Aaraaf," and critically analyzes the cultural and linguistic implications of employing a Culture-Bound Term (CBT) within a cross-cultural literary context. Utilizing Eugene Nida’s theory of Dynamic Equivalence and Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism, the study investigates whether Poe’s selection of "Al-Aaraaf"—a term derived directly from the Holy Quran—was motivated by phonetic appeal or religious significance. This lexical choice reflects an "Orientalist effect" where the author prioritizes exoticism over semantic fidelity. The study finds that Poe’s usage constitutes a fundamental departure from the term's theological origins, specifically by reimagining a Quranic space of divine judgment as an "amoral" celestial star. This research argues that cultural appropriation in literature should adhere to ethical translation standards, particularly regarding religiously sensitive CBTs. Ultimately, the paper highlights the ethical violations inherent in using borrowing as a decorative poetic device rather than a faithful translational bridge, calling for a standardized ethical framework in cross-cultural literary borrowing.