Attitudes of professional translators and translation students towards order management and translator platforms

Abstract

Technology plays an important role in the language industry. Investigating computer-assisted translation tools and machine translation systems is a continuing concern within translation studies. Among translation technologies, translator platforms, which are used both by translators and clients, have received scant attention in the research literature despite the fact that they can facilitate important tasks for translators such as order management. This paper provides an initial attempt to define translator platforms and their purpose. Moreover, it analyses the attitude towards these platforms among translators at different professional stages and with different years of experience. This study consists of a qualitative and a quantitative part. Semi-structured expert interviews and a survey among students in the field of specialised translation have revealed the differences regarding (expectations of) translation management and attitudes towards translator platforms. Especially professional translators who have already gained a foothold in the translation sector and are satisfied with their order management are sceptical about translator platforms providing order management features. Students, regardless of their practical translation experience, have a more positive attitude towards translator platforms. They appreciate the automatically generated quotations and invoices as well as client acquisition.