The Rise of Translation Technology and Its Historical and Continued Symbiotic Relationship to the Pursuit of Ideological Power

The evolution and widespread adoption of translation technology, including computer-aided translation (CAT) tools and machine translation (MT), has increased, and diversified cross-border communication and has altered the very idea of what it means to translate. However, the genesis of these digital technologies did not emerge from a desire to improve human communication but was tethered to the political undercurrents of the 1950s and relied on rudimentary conceptualizations of language and translation. In this context, this chapter explores the ideological drivers of the early MT developments in the US and specifically focuses on the 1954 Georgetown experiment, the first working demonstration of MT. It will be argued that the experiment was more about projecting ideological power than revealing the ability of computers of the period to translate. Moreover, by analysing this historical event the chapter emphasizes the symbiotic relationships that exist between translation and ideological ambitions. Furthermore, from this perspective, it will be contended that these early MT developments were not a failure as they are typically described but a success because they produced ideologically conducive results. In addition, parallels will be drawn with more recent technological developments following the global war on terrorism. It will be shown that this period drove translation technologies that not only combated external threats but also infringed on the liberties of American citizens. Also, focus will be given to the development of handheld translation devices used in theatres of war. In this regard, it will be suggested that the representation of these technologies in popular culture not only acts as symbols of power but also represents ingrained cultural hierarchies, which relate to core themes discussed in Translation Studies following its cultural turn.