Dumb intelligence? Translation as technological mediation.

We propose a semiotic approach to understanding and assessing language technologies. Specifically, by adopting a recent semiotic and broad concept of translation, developed by Kobus Marais, we bring semiotic theory into the service of philosophy of technology. Our perspective reveals that commonly a...

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Publicado en:Sign Systems Studies Vol. 53; no. 3/4; pp. 357 - 398
Autores principales: Xu, Hongying, Olteanu, Alin, Campbell, Cary
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: University of Tartu 2025
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: 2025
      vid: 53
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      pub: University of Tartu
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        10.12697/SSS.2025.53.3-4.04
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        atl: Dumb intelligence? Translation as technological mediation.
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          Xu, Hongying
          Olteanu, Alin
          Campbell, Cary
        affil:
          School of Foreign Languages, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, China
          Institute of Language Sciences, Shanghai International Studies University; Shanghai, China; Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, University of Bucharest, Romania
          Faculty of Education, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
      su:
        Translations
        Semiotics
        Philosophy of technology
        Humanism
        Dualism
      sug:
        subj:
          Translations
          Semiotics
          Philosophy of technology
          Humanism
          Dualism
      keyword:
        extended mind
        large language model
        mediation
        technology
        translation
      ab:
        We propose a semiotic approach to understanding and assessing language technologies. Specifically, by adopting a recent semiotic and broad concept of translation, developed by Kobus Marais, we bring semiotic theory into the service of philosophy of technology. Our perspective reveals that commonly assumed expectations about language generative technologies are mistaken and misleading when shaped through an ideal of engineering humanlike interlocutors, which we illustrate with examples. We find that (software) engineering pursues this ideal, which, fuelled by classical humanism, assumes that language is an anthropic marker. By explaining (technological) emergence as a semiosic process, we develop a robust underpinning for the Mind--Technology Thesis, namely refuting mind-and-matter substance dualism through an evolutionist perspective that construes technology as mind-work. In this vein, semiotics corroborates with externalist theories of mind and postphenomenology in understanding mind and technology as mutually intrinsic. This leads to a semiotics-grounded advocacy of the view in philosophy of technology, championed by Elena Esposito, that for artefacts properly to communicate with biological organisms, they do not require "intelligence".
        Pakume välja semiootilise lähenemise keeletehnoloogiate mõistmisele ning hindamisele. Võttes kasutusele Kobus Marais' poolt viimasel ajal välja töötatud semiootilise ja avara tõlkekäsitluse, rakendame semiootikateooriat eelkõige tehnikafilosoofia teenistuses. Meie vaatenurgast nähtub, et keelt genereerivatele tehnoloogiatele üldiselt ja eelduspäraselt esitatavad ootused osutuvad ekslikeks ja eksitavateks, kui neid kujundatakse inimtaoliste kaasvestlejate konstrueerimise ideaali kaudu, ning me illustreerime seda näidetega. Oleme seisukohal, et (tarkvara)insenerlus püüdleb selle ideaali poole, mis klassikalisest humanismist kantuna eeldab, et keel on antroopsuse näitaja. Selgitades tehnoloogiate esiletõusu semioosilise protsessina, töötame välja toeka vundamendi nn "vaimu-- tehnoloogia teesile", nimelt lükates ümber vaimu ja materiaalse substantsi dualismi, kasutades evolutsionistlikku vaatenurka, mis tõlgendab tehnoloogiat vaimutööna. Sel moel kinnitab semiootika eksternalistlikke vaimuteooriaid ning postfenomenoloogiat, mõistes vaimu ja tehnikat vastastikku omastena. See viib välja semiootikal põhineva toetuseni tehnikafilosoofia seisukohale, mille eest seisab Elena Esposito, et selleks, et oleks võimalik artefaktide tegelik kommunikatsioon bioloogiliste organismidega, ei lähe neil "intellekti" tarvis.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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      custom: Copyright of Sign Systems Studies is the property of University of Tartu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
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