THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE TRANSLATION PROCESS: ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF AUTOMATIC TRANSLATION TOOLS

This article explores the role of technology in the contemporary translation process, focusing on the advantages and limitations of automatic translation tools such as Google Translate, DeepL, and Microsoft Translator. Through a mixed-methods approach combining literature review and practical testing, the study evaluates how these tools perform across various text types and language pairs. Results show that while automatic translation tools offer significant benefits in terms of speed, cost-efficiency, and accessibility—particularly for structured and technical texts—they face substantial challenges in handling context, idiomatic expressions, and cultural nuances. The findings emphasize that although machine translation can support human translators, it cannot replace them in tasks requiring deep linguistic and cultural competence. The article concludes by recommending a collaborative model where technology enhances, rather than replaces, human translation expertise.