Human Translation in the Age of AI
Wednesday 4 February 2026, 4:00pm to 5:30pm
Venue
TRH - Roundhouse B02 - View MapOpen to
All Lancaster University (non-partner) students, Public, Staff, UndergraduatesRegistration
Registration not required - just turn upEvent Details
A roundtable with award-winning translators Jack Hargreaves, Nicky Harman and Simone Schroth. All welcome.
Machine and AI-driven translation tools have transformed how translation is carried out and how it is understood. With easily accessible apps now able to generate instant translations, communication increasingly takes place without recourse to human expertise. In this rapidly changing landscape, what is the value and significance of human translation today?
This moderated discussion brings together three experienced literary translators working across Chinese, Dutch, German, and English. Together, they will examine the cultural, ethical, and geopolitical stakes of translation in the age of AI, exploring what machines can—and cannot—do, and why human translators continue to matter in a changing world.
This event is co-hosted by the Language Education Technology Research Group and Lancaster University Confucius Institute.
Speakers
Jack Hargreaves
Jack Hargreaves is a Chinese-English translator from East Yorkshire, now based in London, specialising in literary and academic translation.
Nicky Harman
Nicky Harman is a UK-based literary translator, working from Chinese to English and focusing on contemporary fiction, literary non-fiction and poetry, by a wide variety of authors.
Simone Schroth
Languages and Global Cultures, Lancaster University
Simone Schroth's background is in comparative literature and translation studies. Simone translates from English and Dutch into German and teaches German at Lancaster University.
Contact Details
| Name | Lancaster University Confucius Institute |
| Website |
https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/confucius-institute/research/seminars |