TRANSLATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE AND FUTURE OF TRANSLATION

Translation has entered a transformative era shaped by rapid digitalization, artificial intelligence, and global connectivity. As digital systems increasingly mediate communication, the act of translation is no longer limited to converting words from one language to another but has become a critical tool for cultural transfer, access to knowledge, and participation in global discourse. The digital age has reshaped expectations surrounding translation by enabling near-instantaneous multilingual communication and expanding translation into everyday contexts such as social media, online learning, government services, healthcare communication, and e-commerce. These developments have elevated translation from a specialized professional practice into a widespread technological feature embedded in daily digital experiences. However, the evolution of translation technologies raises major technical, ethical, and cultural questions. While machine translation, especially in its neural form, has achieved impressive fluency and accessibility, concerns remain regarding accuracy, cultural nuance, fairness, and linguistic equity. The future of translation will likely emerge from a hybrid model that blends human expertise with machine intelligence while ensuring accountability and cultural sensitivity.