Illuminating humanist nature in teaching translation and interpreting studies: Devising an online customisable AI-driven subtitling course

Abstract

AbstractThe paper sets out to devise an online subtitling course emphasising the human nature of translation. To gain a deeper understanding of audience behaviours and attitudes towards the consumption of subtitles, the article utilises questionnaires and case studies. Results are used to devise a learner-customised and technology-assisted online course about subtitling. The case studies that inspire the course content and design include the short-video platform Douyin (the Chinese equivalent of TikTok) and the comparison of two MOOCs, Working with Translation: Theories and Practice and Consecutive Interpreting. In summary, the course design for teaching subtitling will be based on the findings of the research questions and elastically adapted to the syllabus. We put forward our course with an emphasis on the practicality of producing subtitles in light of the technological acceleration in the marketplace and, more importantly, the humanistic nature of translation.