Award Winners for Volume 16
The Critical Influence of Machine Translation on Foreign Language Education: A Prospective Discourse on the Rise of a Novel Instructional Landscape
This treatise explores the philosophical implications of the impact of machine translation on foreign language education. Rather than delving into technical details, it scrutinizes the theoretical ramifications of regarding machine translation as a means of thought. This article aims to articulate the theoretical potential of machine translation and to increase awareness of its significance. It posits that the advent of machine translation has the potential to challenge native linguistic intuition, which traditional corpus linguistics has been unable to achieve. This is attributed to machine translation’s unique features, including (1) its conversion from bad model to good model, (2) its capability for production, and (3) its mediation by the use of the native language. These peculiarities may pose a threat to native speakers’ linguistic intuition and may, in some cases, surpass it. Finally, this article speculates on the possible impact of these theoretical implications on the practice of foreign language education and suggests the potential emergence of a new instructional paradigm characterized by the extensive use of the mother tongue in a backcasting manner.
Generative AI has emerged as a transformative force across the globe. Initially developed as a text-based technology, it has since expanded its capabilities to include the creation of images and the composition of music. However, its most profound and enduring strengths lie within the domain of language. This specialization positions generative AI as particularly influential in language-related fields. The impact of generative AI on foreign language education is profound, heralding a paradigm shift in pedagogical approaches. Despite this disruption, there lies a significant opportunity to enhance foreign language education by leveraging the unique capabilities of generative AI. Exploring this synergy not only holds the potential to redefine educational methodologies but also to unlock the full potential of generative AI in enriching language learning experiences.
This treatise explores the philosophical implications of the impact of machine translation on foreign language education, insights that are also applicable to the realm of generative AI. Rather than delving into technical details, it scrutinizes the theoretical ramifications of regarding machine translation as a means of thought. This article aims to articulate the theoretical potential of machine translation and to increase awareness of its significance. It posits that the advent of machine translation has the potential to challenge native linguistic intuition, which traditional corpus linguistics has been unable to achieve. This is attributed to machine translation’s unique features, including (1) its conversion from bad model to good model, (2) its capability for production, and (3) its mediation by the use of the native language. These peculiarities may pose a threat to native speakers’ linguistic intuition and may, in some cases, surpass it. Finally, this article speculates on the possible impact of these theoretical implications on the practice of foreign language education and suggests the potential emergence of a new instructional paradigm characterized by the extensive use of the mother tongue in a backcasting manner.
—Tsukasa Yamanaka and Chiho Toyoshima