Latest news with #DepartmentofEnglish
Yemenat
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yemenat
?Political Translation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Can Machines Be Biased
Assistant Lecturer, Department of English, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Sana'a University, Yemen, and PhD Candidate in Translation and Artificial Intelligence In the digital era, political translation has emerged as a powerful force in crafting narratives, conveying ideological discourse, and shaping collective perceptions across borders. With the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and the growing prominence of machine translation tools like Google Translate, DeepL, ChatGPT, Deepseek, Gemini, etc. reliance on automated systems has reached unprecedented levels. Yet this progress invites a pressing question: Are these machines neutral agents? Or can artificial intelligence, by nature or design, be biased when translating politically charged content? The Invisibility of Bias: Can Machines Be Truly Objective? While AI systems are often perceived as impartial, they learn from vast datasets created by humans, datasets that inherently carry cultural, political, and ideological assumptions. This means machine outputs reflect the biases, blind spots, and power dynamics embedded in the original content. Consider the phrase 'المقاومة الفلسطينية' ('Palestinian Resistance'). Some AI translation systems render it as 'Palestinian Resistance,' capturing its nationalistic connotation, while others convert it to 'Palestinian Terrorism,' a drastically different framing that invokes international criminality and strips the term of its sociopolitical context. Likewise, the word 'شهيد' (martyr) is often translated as 'the deceased' or simply 'killed,' diminishing its deeply held cultural, spiritual, and ideological significance. Real-World Cases of Linguistic Distortion by Human Translators and Adopted by AI Systems: Biased translations are not merely theoretical. In 2021, when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke on the Palestinian cause, his statement 'القدس خط أحمر بالنسبة لنا' ('Jerusalem is a red line for us') was mistranslated in international media as 'Jerusalem is important to us' a softened version that diluted the strength and urgency of Turkey's stance. The phrase'العملايات الاستشهادية', 'Martyrdom Operations' offers another clear illustration. Often used in certain cultural contexts to signify sacrifice, it is commonly rendered in Western media as 'Suicide Bombings,' a term that repositions the act within a narrative of violence and fanaticism. Depending on the translator's cultural or ideological lens, the action is reframed as either resistance or terrorism a pivotal distinction in shaping global perception. Political translation becomes especially fraught in contexts of ongoing conflict. Take the term 'جدار الفصل العنصري' ('Apartheid Wall'), commonly used by Palestinians to describe the Israeli separation barrier. Israeli narratives often refer to the same structure as a 'Security Barrier.' The former phrase evokes racial segregation and moral indictment; the latter emphasizes protection and pragmatism. Thus, translation doesn't merely carry meaning, it crafts political reality. The Arabic term 'انتفاضة' (Intifada) faces a spectrum of translations: 'uprising' highlights popular resistance, 'revolt' implies rebellion, while 'violent riots' reduces it to disorder. Each label carries ideological weight, affecting how audiences interpret the legitimacy and nature of collective action. Historical memory is also subject to semantic reshaping. 'النكبة' (Nakba), denoting the 1948 forced displacement of Palestinians, is sometimes diluted in translation to 'The 1948 Palestinian Exodus,' reframing a catastrophic event into a seemingly voluntary or inevitable migration. Similarly, 'حق العودة' ('Right of Return') a legal and moral cornerstone of Palestinian discourse, is occasionally rendered as a 'Request' or 'Demand,' minimizing its legitimacy and eroding its rhetorical force on the international stage. Even seemingly straightforward terms like 'المستوطنات' ('Settlements') are at risk of distortion. When translated as 'Neighborhoods,' the term sheds its colonial, legal, and political implications, offering a sanitized narrative of urban development. Meanwhile, 'التطهير العرقي' ('Ethnic Cleansing') has at times been softened to 'Displacement,' a term that downplays the systemic nature and severity of the crime. Beyond Language: The Ethics of Translation in the AI Age The abovementioned examples underscore a broader truth: AI does not invent meanings in isolation. It inherits and amplifies the linguistic and ideological biases embedded in its training data. Political language is inherently fraught, context-bound, and often contentious, realities that machines, without guidance, are ill-equipped to navigate on their own. The challenge, then, is not to discard machine translation, but to calibrate it. The way forward lies in a hybrid model where human translators, steeped in linguistic nuance and cultural literacy, collaborate with AI to ensure translations are not only technically correct but also ethically informed and contextually accurate. In brief, in an age increasingly defined by algorithms and automation, political translation remains an area where human insight is indispensable. Artificial intelligence is not immune to bias, especially when engaged with polarizing issues like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or the Russia-Ukraine war. To prevent AI from becoming an unwitting agent of distortion, we must pair the precision of machines with the conscience of humanity. Only then can translation serve as a true bridge between cultures, rather than a battleground for competing narratives.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
G. Balakrishnan, former Vice-Principal of St. Joseph's College, passes away
G. Balakrishnan, former Vice-Principal and head, Department of English, St. Joseph's College, died on Thursday in Tiruchi. He was 80. He is survived by his wife and two sons. A well-known name in quizzing circles, Balakrishnan was born and brought up in Tiruchi, and was a familiar face as a judge or quiz-master in regional school and college competitions. His eloquent style of conducting quizzes in English and Tamil earned him a large fan base. Starting off in 1970, Balakrishnan conducted his 1,000th quiz in 2010, and kept up his interest in the game even after retiring from St. Joseph's College with 35 years of service behind him. He was known to research his quiz programmes extensively and was a specialist in themed quizzes. A skilled orator, Balakrishnan had broadcast at least 100 programmes on All India Radio Tiruchi on a variety of topics.
Hans India
11-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
KLH Aziznagar Campus to Host Faculty Development Program on Digital English Education
KLH Aziznagar Hyderabad is set to organise a Five-Day Faculty Development Program (FDP) titled 'The English Classroom in the Digital Age: Opportunities and Challenges' from June 16 to 20, 2025. Organized by the Department of English, KLH, this academic event is being held in collaboration with the Department of Literatures in English, English and Foreign Languages University (EFL-U), Hyderabad, and the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, NIT, Warangal. The program is designed to equip faculty members and research scholars with the necessary knowledge, tools, and strategies to engage effectively with the rapidly evolving educational landscape shaped by digital advancements. The FDP aims to explore both the opportunities and challenges of integrating digital tools into English education, offering participants a platform to critically reflect on emerging teaching methodologies. The program will also focus on how digital technologies are transforming the teaching and learning of English, how these tools are conceptualized and applied in English studies, and particularly, the role of Artificial Intelligence in enhancing classroom engagement and pedagogical innovation. With an emphasis on communication, critical thinking, creativity, and cultural awareness, English studies are particularly well-suited to leverage these technologies for more dynamic and engaging learning experiences. Er. Koneru Lakshman Havish, Vice-President of KL Deemed to be University, stated, 'In the face of rapid technological advancement, educators must not only adapt but lead with purpose. Such programs are designed to empower faculty with the critical tools and ethical understanding needed to reimagine the classroom in a digital context.' Dr. A. Ramakrishna, Principal of KLH Aziznagar Campus, along with Dr. Kranthi Priya Oruganti, Convener and Head of the Department of English, and the dedicated faculty and staff, have been working meticulously to curate a focused and impactful program. Educators and scholars from across the country are warmly invited to be part of this enriching experience and contribute meaningfully to the evolving landscape of English education in the digital era.
The Hindu
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Collection of poems released
Vagina Dialogues, a collection of poems by Sruthi J.S. who is serving as the Joint Commissioner, Central Tax and Central Excise Commissionerate, Thiruvananthapuram, was released here recently. Kerala State Planning Board member Mini Sukumar released the book that was received by Manu Remakant, Head of the Department of English, S.N. College, Chempazhanthy. In her address, Ms. Sukumar highlighted the influence of the feminist performance text The Vagina Monologues on the themes and structure of the book. Dr. Remakant spoke about the tone of the collection and the political context of its feminist themes.
Hans India
24-04-2025
- General
- Hans India
RGM Engineering College celebrates English Language Day with fervour
Nandyal: RGM College of Engineering and Technology, Nandyal, celebrated English Language Day on Wednesday to honor the legacy of William Shakespeare and to recognize the global importance of the English language. The event was marked by scholarly insight, spirited discussions, and a deep appreciation of literature's role in shaping communication and critical thinking. The celebration was graced by Dr G Nagalakshmamma, a distinguished academician from Govt. IASE, Kurnool, who served as the Chief Guest. In her keynote address, Dr Nagalakshmamma inspired the students with her innovative ideas and reflections on the enduring relevance of Shakespeare's works. Quoting from several of his plays, she emphasized how Shakespeare's writing encapsulates essential values, social skills, and life lessons that continue to resonate across cultures and generations. She also underlined the significance of English as a 'lingua franca', playing a vital role in connecting people from diverse linguistic backgrounds. The event was convened by Prof. Suneetha Yadav, who offered insightful commentary on the literary contributions of William Shakespeare, explaining his unmatched influence on English literature and drama. Dr P Kousar Basha, Head of the Department of English, along with senior faculty members Dr G Kiran Kumar Reddy, Dr AK Gopi Krishna, and other professors, attended the event, lending their support and encouragement to the initiative. As part of the celebration, engaging panel discussions were conducted with the active participation of students and faculty members. The sessions focused on improving language proficiency, public speaking, and communication skills among engineering students, stressing the growing need for strong English language abilities in the global job market. The celebration not only paid tribute to the Bard of Avon.
