Modern Social Science Research

The field of translation is undergoing a profound transformation, hallmarked by the widespread adoption of machine translation (MT) and the rise of post-editing (PE). From the translator's perspective, this paper explores the essential competencies required in the AI era. It analyzes the impact of AI on the translation industry, highlighting how MT enhances efficiency and reduces costs, while PE plays a critical role in ensuring quality and mitigating the shortcomings of MT. Furthermore, the paper delineates the competencies translators must cultivate, including domain-specific knowledge, technical skills (such as proficiency with MT tools and post-editing), cross-cultural communication, innovative and critical thinking, and professional ethics. Effective pathways for enhancing these competencies are also proposed. This study aims to provide theoretical and practical guidance, assisting translators in adapting to the evolving landscape, excelling within the MT-PE collaborative model, and ultimately enhancing their translation quality and competitiveness.

AI era; Machine translation and post-editing; Cross-cultural communication; Translator competence