Navigating Nuances: Google Translate vs. ChatGPT in Translating Disney’s Mulan with Skopos Theory
List of Authors
  • Seach Jin Beng, Soo Jian Hao

Keyword
  • Google Translate, ChatGPT, Skopos Theory, Mulan, Comparative analysis

Abstract
  • In a modern society where cross-cultural communication has become a daily occurrence, the emphasis on accurate conveyance of messages is getting heavier. As such, A.I. translators have been the bridge to connect people from different linguistic backgrounds as they are conveniently available and adeptly effective. With that, people who do not understand languages outside their own may opt rely on them to gauge the meanings of content in foreign languages. Throughout the years, the emergence of automated translation tools such as Google Translate and ChatGPT have made the process of cross-cultural communication smoother than ever. Despite their proven usefulness, the users of these tools may be unaware that these tools might not always generate fully accurate and suitable translations. The users may often compromise on less accurate translations for the sake of convenience. This study compares the accuracy of translations of subtitles generated by Google Translate and ChatGPT from selected scenes of Disney’s 1998 film Mulan. Through the lens of Skopos Theory, generated translations will be compared to determine the accuracy and suitability with the original mandarin subtitles. This means that Mandarin subtitles generated by Disney will be translated into English using Google Translate and ChatGPT, with the translated results compared to the original English subtitles to determine whether the two tools can generate meanings that are sufficiently close to the originals. This is deemed crucial as Mandarin speakers often rely on Mandarin subtitles to understand the characters. The findings show that both AI translators are competent in their own ways, with ChatGPT better capturing nuances based on cultural differences and sensitivity, as per Skopos Theory.

Reference
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