Browsing by Author "Ahmed, Safa'a A"

Now showing 1 - 14 of 14

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BIAS AND NEURAL MACHINE TRANSLATION: TRANSLATING HEAVILY_LOADED IDEOLOGICAL ENGLISH→ARABIC MESSAGES
(CDELT,Ain Shams University, 2022-10) Ahmed, Safa'a A
Bias, "an inclination, prejudice, preference or tendency towards or against a person, group, thing, idea or belief" (Murphy 2021), raises ethical questions whether in human or machine communication and it can have detrimental impacts on individuals and societies, e.g. criminal judgments. The deployment of AI systems in real-world settings has exposed various kinds of bias against certain social groups. The big number of research on bias in AI applications generally and the few studies on bias in neural machine translation (NMT) particularly have given the present study the momentum to further investigate the issue. It aims to examine bias in NMT through exploring the translation of some heavily-loaded ideological messages from English into Arabic. A multidisciplinary perspective deriving its tenets from translation studies, political sciences and computer science is utilized to explore bias in the translation of ideology by Google Translate API. It employs a qualitative approach using analysis, comparison and deduction as tools of research. It has reached some interesting findings, which came contrary to my initial expectations.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING TRAINING: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF SPEECH-TO-TEXT TECHNOLOGY
(CDELT,Ain Shams University, 2022-07) Ahmed, Safa'a A
As the world is rushing relentlessly to incorporate technology and artificial intelligence into various walks of life under allegations like 'development', researchers should investigate the potential impacts of such a movement from different perspectives. Simultaneous interpreting (SI) is no exception per se. The present study aimed to explore how useful the technological advances achieved in artificial intelligence can be in SI training (process and performance) through an experimental study of a speech-to-text technology. It adopted both qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches using analysis, comparison, assessment, questionnaire and experiment as research tools. In this human-machine interaction, sample original English speeches (in Language B) were interpreted simultaneously into Arabic (Language A) by participants/trainees representing fourth year university students, with the help of a speech-to-text model. The significance of the study lies mainly in its potential implications for the industry, training and education, and research. It found out that STT in its current form is a failure and that the suggested model proved some success although the results were quite modest.
Globalisation vs. Islamic Universality and the Politics of Translation
(Ain Shams University, Center for Developing English Language Teaching, 2024-04) Ahmed, Safa'a A
The world has been recently going through vast, overwhelming changes whose implications for different fields and disciplines are beyond understanding and interpretation at times. Many concepts, like 'Globalistaion', have been presented as the magic wand for countries and individuals alike to attain their aspirations, but peoples have attained more problems, wars, conflicts, ignorance, deterioration and sometimes even destruction. The Western perspective of Globalisation has failed to offer an acceptably successful model for a 'prosperous', 'free', 'democratic', happy globe. Since the relationship between language, politics and translation is steadfast, this study aims to challenge the inevitability of the Western models of Globalisation, to explore 'Islamic Universality' as a valuable global model, and to investigate the politics of translation in this regard. It is not my intention to compare between Globalisation as an ideology on the one hand and Islamic Universality as a religion on the other. It is rather a comparison between an idea and another. Its theoretical underpinnings delve into translation studies, especially Ahmed (2014; 2020) and political sciences, particularly Fukuyama's 'The End of History' (1989). It compares between the two concepts, revisiting and reinterpreting some events in history and making new relationships. Methodological tools include description, analysis, comparison and interpretation in a qualitative research design, using one of G.W. Bush's addresses and comparing it to a letter by Prophet Mohammed, may peace be upon him, as sample data representing the two discourses respectively. It concludes, for example, that it is either the 'end of history' for Globalisation or time for history to end as such; Time has come for the 'beginning of history' of an alternative universalist model. Thus the 'end of history' can be interpreted differently from Fukuyama's. Also, the domination ideology is deep-rooted in history, whose events cannot be logically interpreted without a theory of conspiracy, a theory harshly and unethically attacked to maintain Mankind's coma and stupefaction. Meanwhile, it uncovers the politics and the potential role of translation.
Ideological Translation and Mass Communication: A Modernization or a Conflict Enterprise? A Case Study of Al-Jazeera and Al Arabiya
(2014-12) Ahmed, Safa'a A
This study aims to investigate the functional and dysfunctional roles of ideological translation and mass media in the Arab World and challenges naïve concepts of translation, like 'faithfulness' and 'loyalty' to the text writer, and of mass media like 'modernization', 'democratization', etc. It hypothesizes that both translation and mass communication can play a functional role promoting modernization and development or a dysfunctional one promoting chaos and conflict and that both have recently played a dysfunctional role in the Arab world. The importance of the study is twofold. At the topic level: a)-Ideological translation has critical consequences on shaping the Arab societies; b)-If the ideology of translation and the translation of ideology are linked directly to mass media, then we can imagine the tremendous effects on message receivers, especially if we are talking about an age of globalization where the international public opinion is shaped and reshaped by the dominant global media. At the theoretical level: a)-It attempts to fill in the gap in the literature on translation and mass communication in the Arab World; b)- It discusses this issue from a multidisciplinary perspective: translation studies and ideology, pragmatics, theory of power, theory of conflict in international relations and communication theories; let alone the English/Arabic duality which is quite rare in the literature. The analysis of samples collected from Al-Jazeera English (AJE) and Arabic (AJA) and Al-Arabiya channels reveals many interesting results. Ideological translation has recently played a dysfunctional role in the Arab societies creating conflict areas. The internationally-dominated mass media, like Al- Jazeera, have been dysfunctional and promoted a neocolonial enterprise of chaos, conflicts and wars instead of modernization, development and peace. Such a role leads to grave distortions in message-content receivers' value and information system globally. Al Arabiya, on the other hand, as an example for confrontation media has a long way to go in order to be functional. There is a gap in translation and mass communication models accounting for their involvement in modernization or conflicts in the Arab societies. Consequences of dysfunctionality include, but not restricted to, an increase in terrorism. The U.S. and the West diligent attempts to convince the international public opinion of modernization are absolutely deceptive.
Omission in Simultaneous Interpreting: A Multidisciplinary Perspective to U.S. Presidential Debates
(Ain Shams University - Centre for Developing English Language, 2019-07) Ahmed, Safa'a A
This paper attempts a new categorisation of omission in simultaneous interpreting through exploring and investigating omission in the simultaneous interpreting of U.S. presidential debates from English into Arabic in order to improve the interpreter's performance. This is not an attempt, however, to answer the question why the interpreter uses omission, intentionally or impromptu, because it is not a cognitive study of the reasons why this phenomenon occurs. Instead, it aims to evaluate omission in real, professional contexts to determine how far omissions convey the functions of presidential debates. The data is collected from the second 2016 U.S. presidential debate between the two candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. An interdisciplinary approach combining between interpreting studies (especially Pym's Risk Analysis 2008) and political sciences (basically Benoit's Functional Theory of Political Campaign Discourse 2017) is employed. The paper reaches the conclusion that there is a gap in understanding omission in interpreting a discourse type as such from English into Arabic and that interpreters used omission in their renditions, a matter which affected the three functions of presidential debates. Omission should be accounted for in the light of an interdisciplinary approach combining between a multi-layered linguistic and pragmatic analysis, interpreting studies and a functional theory of political campaign discourse. The product and its potential impact(s) for the aims of communication determine the level of functionality entailed in the interpretation: 'functional', 'nonfunctional, or 'semi-functional''. If the interpreter becomes aware of the functions of this discourse type and how it behaves, then his performance should presumably be improved; and at this particular point, further empirical, experimental research is recommended.
The Other in Subtitled Documentary Films and Making History: A Multidisciplinary Perspective to Arabic/English Translation. Occasional Papers in the Development of English Language Education,
(CDELT, 2016-12) Ahmed, Safa'a A
Original citation: Ahmed, Safa'a A. (2016). The Other in Subtitled Documentary Films and Making History: A Multidisciplinary Perspective to Arabic/English Translation. Occasional Papers in the Development of English Language Education, CDELT, 62 (December) 2016, pp.297-327. Updated: 12/4/2020 The Other in Subtitled Documentary Films and Making History: A Multidisciplinary Perspective to Arabic/English Translation Dr. Safa'a A. Ahmed, Assistant Professor Faculty of Languages, MSA University Abstract What is the relation between translation and history? A simple question as it may seem, but it gave the motive for this study to explore academically this relationship. The study aimed to investigate the role of subtitling translation of documentary films from Arabic into English and the use of supplementary visual images in making the history of the Other, the Arab Other generally and Egyptian Other particularly. It hypothesized that the West has constructed a deformed image of the Egyptian 'Other' and used translation and visual images as a tool to make the latter's history. To test the authenticity or the inauthenticity of the hypothesis, it set the following objectives: to analyze and compare English TTs to their original Arabic STs to infer the translator's strategy; to analyze visual images and discuss the image of the Other as delineated in both the TTs and STs; to present counter stories to reveal the other side of the story and who makes history; to explore how subtitling translation and visual images are utilized to help in making the Other's history; and to devise a future role for translators in this respect. The sample data was collected from the BBC documentary 'Egypt's Stolen Billions' (2012) and it consists of original Arabic utterances and their subtitling translation from Arabic into English, and some visual images. The study applied a qualitative, theoretical method of research using content analysis and comparison between TTs and STs as tools of analysis. An interdisciplinary approach deriving its key concepts from cultural translation studies and international relations theories was employed. The study found out that whatever the translator' modes of negotiating the Other are, translation can become an operative political decision to make the history of this Other and that subtitling translation and visual images can be used as political tools to achieve certain agendas.
Postcolonialism and Foreignisation as a Translation Strategy: A New Perspective to the Arab Family Values in Translated English Films
(Ain Shams University - Centre for Developing English Language, 2019-04) Ahmed, Safa'a A
By Dr. Safa'a Ahmed Associate Professor of Interpreting and Translation Faculty of Languages, MSA University Abstract The intricate relationship between translation and mass media is particularly evident in the light of globalization, where the Arab media has heavily relied on translated materials as globalised, 'modernized', up-to-date and almost ready-made sources for its contents. The present paper aims to investigate 'postcolonialism' and the use of 'foreignisation' as a translation strategy in mass media and explore the latter's role in introducing some foreignised family values and roles alien to the identity of Arab societies from a new multidisciplinary perspective. Therefore, it raises three questions. What is the role played by the translation of English films in mass media in introducing some foreignised values alien to the Arab families bonding and values? How can foreignisation, as a translation strategy suggested by postcolonialists to resist colonialism, contribute itself to viewers' conceptions or misconceptions of social reality? What do the Arab youths think of this role? This qualitative and quantitative study uses content analysis and comparison to analyse the content of an English film and its Arabic translation, and questionnaire. Also, some secondary data, represented in visual images taken from the film Mrs. Doubtfire and thought to add high value to the research discussion and conclusion, complements the primary data. It adopts a multidisciplinary approach based mainly on Niranjana's postcolonial translation theory and Gerbner's Cultivation Theory in mass communication; images are anlaysed using Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis. My intention is, by no means, to apply the Cultivation Theory in order to measure the effect the repetitive exposure to TV has on family ties. It is rather to present new perspectives at the level of translation theorization, topic and the multidisciplinary approach adopted. The analysis and discussion of data and results reveal that contrary to what many postcolonial advocates claim that the translator should adopt a foreignisation strategy, it enhances colonialism, or neocolonialism, when used in the translation of English texts into Arabic, or into what they call the 'less hegemonic languages'. The translation strategy used and mass media, (traditionally represented in TV), have both challenged and undermined some of the Arab family values and roles.
Quality Assessment in Community Interpreting: A Case-study of Talk-shows Renditions from English into Arabic
(CDELT, 2020-04) Ahmed, Safa'a A
This research aims to investigate the quality of community interpreting in social settings through studying the interpretation of talk-shows encounters from English into Arabic and to present some quality assessment criteria to this end. It hypothesizes that if a model for quality assessment is applied to this community interpreting, using a multi-disciplinary approach, we can systematically account for 'ideal', 'close' and 'divergent' renditions and hence improve the practice. The objectives are to show the gap in the knowledge of quality interpreting in the real practices of interpreters at social settings and the limitations of research in this regard, to analyse and discuss the collected data using a pragmatic and cultural approach, and to elicit some criteria for quality assessment. It attempts to answer three questions. How and to what extent can a multi-disciplinary approach together with a quality assessment model help decide the quality of community interpreting in social contexts like talk-shows? What is an ideal or a close rendition? What is a divergent one? It examines three encounters in a talk-show interpreted simultaneously (SI) and consecutively (CI) from English into Arabic. The participants are not native speakers of English. A qualitative research method of content analysis is utilized to compare Arabic renditions to their original English utterances. The study concludes that there is a gap in the knowledge of quality interpreting among practitioners of the profession. The appropriateness of the interpreter's role and performance is decided according to the suggested criteria for quality assessment. Also, the multi- disciplinary approach used helps tackle different perspectives and uncover aspects in 'close' and 'divergent' renditions that would not have been possible otherwise. It recommends that this model is adopted by interpreters and in training courses.
Quality Assessment of Simultaneous Interpreting: Teaching and Learning Perspective to English and Arabic Renditions
(18/08/2020) Ahmed, Safa'a A
Despite the unprecedented interest in interpreting teaching and training, there exists a gap in the knowledge of quality assessment of simultaneous interpreting (SI) in the academia. This study aims to investigate the assessment of the quality of SI from a teaching and learning perspective, in a new way especially of looking at holistic and subjective judgements. It raises three questions. How to make assessments? How to design a rubric? How to use assessments and rubrics to help teachers and learners get quality education? This multidisciplinary study derives its theoretical tenets from interpreting studies and interactive pedagogical assessment, employing case study and questionnaire methods. The data was collected from actual assessments of bi-directional English/Arabic renditions, given to final-year university learners of SI unit. Proper assessment and clear rubrics 'with some holistic and subjective' characteristics can help enhance teachers' assessment and learners' creative performance.
Simultaneous Conference Interpreting and Mediation: An Application of a Cognitive-linguistic Approach to Professional Interpreting from English into Arabic
(Simultaneous Conference Interpreting and Mediation, 2015-06) Ahmed, Safa'a A
Generally speaking, the literature on simultaneous interpreting and professionals within the field tends to take norms like the interpreter's 'faithfulness' to the speaker and 'accuracy' for granted, without making scrupulous research descriptions or investigations. The simultaneous interpreters' 'mediation' is one of those norms. They often than not describe it as being unprofessional. In a globalized world where the need for such an activity increases, it becomes necessary and even inevitable to account empirically for the norms and principles of this practice. Therefore, the present paper studies and evaluates mediation in the context of professional conferences. It attempts to determine whether there is mediation on the part of the simultaneous interpreter, and if so, to what degree this can be acceptable. The paper applies a multidisciplinary approach to English speeches given at real conferences and their simultaneous interpretations into Arabic. The Interpretive Theory, a pragmatic model, and some political theories formed the theoretical basis of analysis. Content analysis and comparative study constituted a perfect methodology to this end. It comes to the conclusion that there is a mediation on the part of interpreters and there are cases where it is acceptable and others where it becomes unacceptable (very few due to the high degree of professionalism presented).
TECHNOLOGY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
(CDELT,Ain Shams University, 2022-04) Ahmed, Safa'a A
The insertion of technology in simultaneous interpreting has recently raised much controversy among, inter alia, practitioners, researchers and end-service users. Precipitous developments especially in Artificial Intelligence can affect not only the façade but also the core of the profession. The world's feverish propaganda for the inevitability of technological change together with the epidemic panic from machine IQ to reach 10,000 (while Einstein's was 150) have given impetus for this research to investigate the past and present of using technology in simultaneous interpreting and explore the challenges and opportunities for collaboration between the human and the machine from a multidisciplinary perspective. It is a qualitative study which uses description, comparison, and interpretation as research methods to analyse how the human and the machine react to the process of simultaneous interpreting and assess their performance and role. It concludes that there is not much prospect that machines can replace the human interpreter at least in the near future, and that technological developments should be directed to serve the field and human interpreters in a constructive way.
Towards an Accurate Simultaneous Court Interpreting: A Communicative, Pragmatic and Semiotic Approach to English/Arabic Renditions
(FACULTY of alsun, 2017-01) Ahmed, Safa'a A
This paper aims to investigate and evaluate the intricacies of accuracy in simultaneous court interpreting and challenges the view that accuracy is unattainable. It hypothesizes that there is an overlapping and vague understanding of the 'accuracy' of court interpreting; and by applying a multidisciplinary model, accuracy becomes attainable. The theoretical framework derives its concepts principally from models of error analysis in court interpreting and from a communicative, pragmatic and semiotic model. It applies a qualitative methodology to data collected from an open session of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon where a witness is cross-examined, and their simultaneous interpretation from/into English/Arabic. It concludes that there is vagueness in understanding what an 'accurate' court interpreting is and that accuracy is possible, but it is attainable neither through the interpreter's impartiality by sticking blindly to the code of ethics, nor through his blatant mediation.
Translation and Shaping the Arab Identity in a Post-colonial Globalized World: A Multi-disciplinary Approach
(Canadian Center of Science and Education, 12/12/2016) Ahmed, Safa'a A
Conflicts over identity are old and they emerged explicitly during the European colonial expansion in the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries and they accelerated remarkably with a recent globalization wave that started in the early1990s. Philosophers, psychologists, mathematicians, logicians, politicians, among others, have found in the term "identity" a vivid niche where they can approach and research the issue. The relationship between identity, globalization, language and translation is so steadfast that a fresh perspective on the role of translation in this respect is urgently required. Hence comes the present research. It hypothesizes that there is a conflict between Arab identity and globalization and this is manifested in the role played by translation. This paper is an interdisciplinary examination of the role of translation in shaping the Arab identity in a post-colonial, globalized world, taking concepts from post-colonial translation studies, pragmatics, post-colonial theory of international relations and Samuel Huntington's theory of the Clash of Civilizations. It employs a dual methodology of content analysis and comparative study between English texts and their Arabic translations. It aims to reveal the nature of this role. Through the analysis of data, it concludes that translation has played a 'shameful' role in shaping the identity of the Arab World in the post-colonial era and that globalization is a new form of Western colonialism which targets the identities of other nations.
Translation as a Soft Power to Westernise Local Identities: An Arab Perspective
(Ain Shams University - Centre for Developing English Language, 2019-10) Ahmed, Safa'a A
Translation theory and practice have become so westernised that there is almost one, and one only, way for the flow of information regarding the discipline. In a globalised world, translation can be used as a form of soft power to serve the dominant power's interests. This study aims to investigate translation theory and practice as a soft power from an Arab point of view. In so doing, it raises questions about the extent to which translation as such is westernized, and about the implications for local identities. The study's theoretical framework is based on Venuti's concepts of 'the scandals of translation', 'domestication' and 'foreignisation'. It is a qualitative study with different tools of analysis. First, it utilises a descriptive approach to the history of translation theories. Second, it analyses and compares the content of source texts written in the hegemonic language of the Empire, English, and their corresponding target texts in the less hegemonic language, Arabic, and vice versa. The implications are 'scandalous' on the Arab identity and image.