ABSTRACT
Today translators process and produce written content, generally by typing into word processors or computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools while a small minority of translators dictate their translations via speech recognition systems. Some translators even use computer-generated speech to listen to the translations they have just typed. This chapter provides an introduction into the main characteristics of the speech technologies supporting these activities – i.e. automatic speech recognition (ASR), also known as ‘speech-to-text’, alongside computer-generated speech (known as ‘speech synthesis’ or ‘text-to-speech’) – together with a short overview of their applications in translation and revision practices. It draws on examples from domains such as captioning and subtitling where ASR has already become an integral part of the process, together with research findings on the integration of dictation modes into the translation workflow. The chapter examines the advantages and weaknesses of speech technologies and highlights the key implications for the translation community, including both practitioners and researchers.
