Machine translation and post-editing: specific translators’competence

Abstract

With recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, the integration of machine translation (MT) and post-editing (PE) into the translation workflow has become a reality in the professional market. This raises the question of the specific skills that will enable the professionals of the future to interact effectively with these new technologies. This article aims to answer this question through a literature review, with aqualitative approach, analyzing a series of 20 academic articles published between 2015 and 2022, in Spanish and English, and extracted from indexed journals available in at least one of the three global databases explored. The analysis focuses on determining the competencies advocated by the authors vis-à-vis MT and PE. While technological competencies are not downplayed, personal and interpersonal competencies feature prominently. Given the importance attached to these competencies for employability, it is recommended that they be acquired in a collaborative and active learning framework that simulates the real work environment. After noting the research gaps at the national level, a model of competencies directly related to the current workflow of the translation industry is proposed.