Machine translation as a motivation factor and testing tool in the process of teaching philology students

The article explores the evolving attitude of language teachers towards machine translation (MT) in foreign language education. In response to the improved quality and increased implementation of MT in practical settings, educators are shifting from outright prohibition to integrating it as a motivational and educational tool.

The suggested approach involves three key steps. Firstly, students are shown the general weaknesses of MT and specific challenges related to language pairs. Secondly, students are trained to identify potential translation errors independently. Lastly, students are encouraged to continually enhance their language skills to compete effectively with MT.

The study emphasizes incorporating MT-generated examples into exams to assess students’ true translation skills while preventing unauthorized MT use. It argues that such a method simultaneously evaluates students and avoids biased claims.

Additionally, the article delves into the current state of MT research, citing works by various researchers globally. It highlights the surge in studies post-2016 due to significant advancements in MT program development.

The main goal of the article is to analyze the use of MT not just as a practical translation tool but as a means to enhance students’ motivation in philology. The prerequisites for effective use of MT in the learning process are discussed, emphasizing the importance of teaching students to use it judiciously.

Examples from Japanese to Russian illustrate potential pitfalls in MT, emphasizing the need for deep language understanding. The article contends that while MT can save time, a translator must first master the basics of the target language for successful use.

The article concludes with an example of analyzing MT errors in a scientific book for children. It suggests that despite MT’s progress, educators should guide students to approach translation thoughtfully. The study proposes that, when used judiciously, MT can aid language learning, providing opportunities for grammar practice, serving as a tutor, and encouraging deeper study of related disciplines.

Keywords: machine translation, motivation, testing, education, language teaching

https://dspace.spbu.ru/handle/11701/47821

Pages 195-206

Japanese Verb “Naru”: Key to Understanding of Japanese Mentality

The connection between language and culture, specifically how the grammatical and lexical constructions of a language manifest the peculiarities of a nation’s culture, has long been researched. In Japan, one such grammatical construction of interest is the verb “naru”. There is a commonly held thesis that the use of this word strongly reflects the Japanese worldview and value system. Hence, considering how it is translated by speakers of other languages can be one way in which to consider the different perspectives they may hold. For the most part, Japanese researchers believe that there are two important camps of thought, either translating “naru” with a word close in meaning to the Russian “stanovitsya ; stati” (to become) or with a verb similar to the Russian “delati ; sdelati” (to do).

In this paper, the author analyzes 28 variants of the use of the verb “naru” in Japanese and variants of its translation into Russian. The study concludes that only in 6 out of 28 cases, the translation of this verb using the Russian verb “stanovitsya–statj (to become)” is adequate.

In response to these findings, the author hypothesizes that the frequent use of the verb “naru” in the Japanese context is meant to emphasize the importance placed on how the state of a person or the surrounding world has changed. In contrast, when placed into the Russian context, emphasis is given to action and the actor performing it. By attempting to explain these linguistic differences, we are able to make grounded assumptions about the perspectives and values held by the speakers of these two languages.

Keywords: Japanese, Russian, comparison of cultures, verb “naru”, verb “stanovitsya – statj” (to become)/ Japanese mentality, Japanese national character

https://dspace.spbu.ru/bitstream/11701/41523/1/284-292.pdf

Pages 284-292

Re-Evaluating the Methods of Teaching Russian Translation in Japanese Universities

The paper discusses multiple factors that have recently arisen and have created the need to reevaluate the teaching methods for Russian translation at Japanese universities. Some of these factors are more general, such as machine translation, while some are specific to Japan, such as the more organizational and methodological factors. This paper then presents new methods developed by the author for teaching and assessing translation at all levels of education. These methods proved to be successful in activating the interest of students and greatly improved the quality and intensity of classes.

Keywords: translation, methodology, online learning, motivation, teaching materials

https://dspace.spbu.ru/bitstream/

pages 312-322