Article published in:
Translation, Cognition & Behavior
Vol. 3:2 (2020) ► pp. 145–164

MT Literacy—A cognitive view

| Dublin City University
| Zurich University of Applied Sciences
MT literacy means knowing how MT works, how the technology can be useful in a particular context, and what the implications are of using it for various purposes. As MT usage grows, the necessity for MT literacy also grows. This knowledge forms part of the greater need for digital literacies. In this contribution, we relate MT literacy to the concept of cognitive load in professional translation production and in translator training scenarios. We then move beyond the sphere of translation studies to examine other use-case settings—crisis communication, academic writing and patent publishing—to consider how MT can offer solutions and how MT literacy can impact cognitively in those settings. We discuss how training in MT literacy can empower language professionals and present two proposals for course content designed for MT users in other sectors.
Keywords: MT literacy, cognitive load, use-case scenarios, digital literacies
Published online: 10 November 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/tcb.00038.obr
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