The Influence of AI-Based Translation Tools on the Translation of Dr. Ghazi Al-Qusaibi’s Poetry by Saudi EFL Learners

Abstract

This study examines the impact of artificial intelligence-based translation tools on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' ability to translate a poem written by renowned Saudi Arabian poet Dr. Ghazi Al-Qusaibi from Arabic to English. Fifty Saudi undergraduate EFL students participated in the research and were divided equally into an experimental group that used AI tools and a control group that did not. Both groups were asked to translate one of Dr. Al-Qusaibi's poems, which was then evaluated based on parameters like accuracy, fluency, use of poetic devices, and adherence to genre conventions. Results of statistical analyses found the translations produced by students in the experimental group scored significantly higher on most parameters compared to the control group. While both groups demonstrated accuracy in conveying the core meaning, the AI-assisted group showed advantages in areas like producing more fluent and coherent translations with fewer syntactic errors. Within the limitations of focusing on just one poet, the study provides insights into how strategic integration of AI during the translation process could help learners overcome challenges inherent to translating poetry, which relies so heavily on cultural contextualization and creative interpretation of symbolic language. Further research expanding the sample size and variety of source texts could yield a richer understanding.