Machine vs. Human Translation: The Traduction of Cultural Issues in Children’s Literature as Represented in H.C. Anderson and J.K. Rowling

This comparative study investigates the impact of Machine Translation (MT) on children's literature, specifically examining its influence on cultural references. The selected genres for analysis are fantasy fiction and fairy tales/folklore fiction. Therefore, the study will include short stories by Hans Christian Andersen, which are The Little Mermaid, The Nightingale, and The Tinderbox, alongside the third book of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, authored by J. K. Rowling. By employing a comparative approach, the MT version, using ChatGPT, is contrasted with a human translation (HT). The findings of this study provide significant insights into the limitations of Machine Translation (MT) in preserving cultural identity, particularly when applied to children's literature. The results highlight how MT tools, such as ChatGPT, often fail to account for the cultural sensitivities, social values, and contextual nuances that are essential to making translated texts appropriate and accessible for young Arab readers. This study suggests that proper prompts should be employed while using ChatGPT in translating children’s literature, as these specific, tailored prompts may aid in preserving the Arab culture. The main goal is to keep culturally specific terms in translated texts, making the translation more authentic and accessible for children to read and appreciate.