Actvities
This project deals with Artificial Intelligence (AI), and in particular with the process of transferring text to images via a complex and innovative inter-semiotic translation process. In so doing, this highly experimental project advocates for a dual level of investigation (both visual and linguistic), encouraging reflection on the inter-semiotic process of translation and on the learning that goes on behind the scenes.
AIneid, Narrating mythology in the Age of AI is the result of a partnership between the International Center for Research on Collaborative Translation (IULM University, Milan) and Karma Lab (Koç University, Istanbul) that will lead to the production of a short film that reimagines the epic of the Virgilian Aeneid through the lenses of AI.
The training of the image-generating tools will take advantage of comparative studies and of glossaries based on existing English translations of the Aeneid, and be based on a process of inter-semiotic translation, thus creating a productive synergy between the researcher and the AI medium.
Research supervisor: Francesco Laurenti
Coordinators (PI): Fabio Morotti, Asım Evren Yantac
Research support: Federica Villareale, Sumru Deniz
Partner: Karma Lab (Koç University, Istanbul)
With the advent of generative artificial intelligence, a growing number of authors will be tempted to bypass the translation stage entirely and craft their texts directly in their second language with the aid of an appropriate GenAI prompt. Some authors have always preferred to write in their second language and many professional editors already make a career out of correcting this kind of texts. However, the task of these editors will no longer remain confined to purely correcting the mistakes made by non-native authors; it will transition towards the editing of synthetic text. Thanks to their linguistic capabilities, professional translators are in an ideal position to provide this new kind of service.
The main aim of the research is:
1. To establish whether authors would consider using GenAI as a tool again in the future, and how.
2. To establish how important the editor’s role is in the process of producing a text in a second language.
3. To identify any tell-tale mistakes caused specifically by the use of GenAI and establish whether these mistakes are similar to the typical errors found in raw machine-translation output.
4. If the errors in point 3 exist, to draft an error taxonomy (if possible) that might be useful for training students in synthetic-text editing.
Research supervisor: Francesco Laurenti
Coordinator (PI): Michael Farrell
Research support: Giulia Sarullo
We have begun several collaborations with festival organizers and institutional partners. These initiatives are among the many promoted by the International Center for Research on Collaborative Translation, as a result of our interest for the formation of translators in the areas of sound and video art (especially for what concerns the subtitling of short films, films and documentaries).
Some of our latest external partners have been: Bardolino Film Festival (https://www.bardolinofilmfestival.it/) il Climate Space Film & Music ( https://www.climatespace.it/; Irish Film Festa di Roma (https://www.irishfilmfesta.org/); Sguardi Altrove International Women's Film Festival (https://sguardialtrovefilmfestival.it/).
We have also collaborated with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Ministero degli Affari esteri e della cooperazione internazionale) adding subtitles to the short films by Diritti Lab (https://italiana.esteri.it/italiana/progetti/diritti-lab-la-farnesina-con-iulm-per-i-diritti-umani/), and with TV2000 on their project Ninne nanne ai tempi della guerra
Finally, IULM students involved in the professional work experience programme have added subtitled to two masterclass videos, L’attualità del Don Chisciotte and Machiavelli e la scienza politica (progetto Fondamenta).
Coordinators: Mara Logaldo, Ilaria Valerioti
Let us know about any mistakes or omissions by writing to: [email protected]
NEW IA-BASED TOOLS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE "CONVERSO" PLATFORM
Research supervisor: Francesco Laurenti
Coordinator: Valentina Baselli
In the context of collaboration in interpreting and with a specific focus on the interpreter-technology combination, this investigation focuses on the training of young interpreters via the use of new technologies and Artificial Intelligence, proposing new collaborative teaching approaches and new AI-based tools in collaboration with the "Converso" platform. In addition to integrating a CAI tool within the Simultaneous Remote Interpretation platform, the usability of the new tool will be tested. The CAI tool integrated into the platform, which displays the most critical elements of simultaneous interpretation for interpreters (numbers, proper names and specialized terminology), being developed specifically for educational purposes, is the first of its kind. In addition, a further area of focus concerns the inclusion of people with disabilities through the development of new functions for interpreters/users with visual impairments.
Research supervisor: Francesco Laurenti
Coordinator: Valentina Baselli
TERMINOLOGY ACTION WITHOUT BORDERS (European Parliament):
this project represents a direct collaboration with the European Parliament (https://yourterm.eu/) enabling the creation of terminology glossaries in the various languages of the European Union in ten different areas, through collaboration between universities and the European Parliament and with the direct involvement of students.
Terminology research starts from the creation of corpora and with terminology extraction, using tools such as Sketch Engine, and the creation of terminology cards in collaborative mode using the Fairterm software developed by the University of Padua. In particular, the latter tool provides access to a collaborative space where it is possible not only to compile one's own terminology sheets, but also to view and edit information entered by other project partners, enabling collaboration among several universities.
Upon completion of the analysis, all term sheets will be posted on the YOURTERM website along with the university's logo, the names of the coordinators and of the students who took part in the project. All terms are reviewed by experts and those deemed most relevant are then entered into the European Union IATE terminology database.
Of particular interest is the writing of master's theses and scholarly contributions based on the research activity on collaborative terminologydescribed above. These can be sent to the coordinators of the TERMINOLOGY WITHOUT BORDERS project and published on the website.
TRANSLATION, INCLUSION AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LABORATORY
(in partnership with The University of Bologna (Forlì branch) and the Polytechnic University of Turin for the E-MIMIC project, Empowering Multilingual Inclusive Communication).
The objective is to contribute to the preparation of an application that will be used in public administration to encourage the use of inclusive language at multiple levels (with respect to gender, physical characteristics, age, cultural and religious affiliation, and sensory and motor disability conditions). The research involves the active involvement of students in the IULM Master's Degree in Specialist Translation and Conference Interpreting and is developed from three Romance languages (Italian, French and Spanish). The students participated in a specific training course held by the project leader, Prof. Rachele Raus, and contributed to implementing and annotating the corpora used in the training of artificial intelligence
Preliminary training of selected students is planned, within a Professional Skills course also sponsored by the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence "Artificial Intelligence for European Integration" on:
1. machine translation corpora;
2. gender bias, other types of bias, machine translation (intralinguistics) and artificial intelligence;
3. inclusive language and reformulation of text from non-inclusive to inclusive;
4. use of the E-MIMIC platform and annotation of corpora;
5. post-editing activities. These highly professionalizing activities are complemented by the training and development of soft skills for students,
6. reflection on language reformulation according to the norms of register and acceptability e and
7. on the learning paradigms that govern artificial intelligence.
Prof. Elena Liverani and Dr. Marta Muscariello participate in the project activities as IULM referees; they also contribute their scientific knowledge, respectively for the development of the Spanish and French application, with a focus on inclusive language as it relates to disability.
Permanent workshop on collaborative revision of texts on/in translationAs part of the actions and research projects promoted by the International Center for Research on Collaborative Translation, the "Permanent workshop on collaborative revision " was born, addressed to students of the Master's Degree Course in Specialist Translation and Conference Interpreting
The purpose of the workshop is to provide students with practical techniques for consolidation and refinement of text revision on translation and in translation, in a collaborative setting. the Research on collaborative practices of textual revision of texts in/on translation is performed in parallel with more specifically educational activity geared to training.
- Research supervisor: Francesco Laurenti
- Coordinator: Andrea Di Gregorio
- Support: Silvia Velardi
As part of the actions and research projects promoted by the International Center for Research on Collaborative Translation, the "Permanent Text Revision Laboratory" addressed to students of the Master's Degree Course in Specialist Translation and Conference Interpreting was born
The purpose of the laboratory is to provide on an experimental basis techniques for consolidation and refinement of text revision on translation and in translation, in a collaborative dimension. Parallel to the more peculiarly educational activity is research on collaborative practices of textual revision of texts in/on translation.
- Research supervisor: Francesco Laurenti
- Coordinator: Andrea Di Gregorio
- Support: Silvia Velardi
Among the activities that see collaborations between the International Center for Research on Collaborative Translation and other entitites, and as part of the actions aimed at the professionalization of students in the Master's Degree Course in Specialist Translation and Conference Interpreting, a seminar was carried out by the Inter-university Research Center on the Romance Americas-CRIAR, which offered the opportunity to reflect on the theme of prison writing, but also to experiment with literary translation, learning how to typeset and bind. The collaboration led to the active participation of IULM students of LM-94 in the seminar, and with the development of a multimedia series of handcrafted books on prison literature ("Il brigantino" at LaTina Cartonera Publisher) under the patronage of the Office of Social Services and Volunteering of the University of Milan.
Within the framework of research projects, research actions, workshops and activities promoted by the International Center for Research on Collaborative Translation, the possibility of collaboration is offered to students who are interested in carrying out a professionalizing activity.
Below are the names of those who have already participated and collaborated with some of the actions:
Collaborative translation/revision of the volume Le guerre di Putin, Gremese Editore, Rome, 2023
- abbamondi L
- ballan S
- beneduce I
- boccasile L
- bonfigli E
- Castiglioni I
- Castria A
- Chiarenza M
- Colombo R
- Ferri E
- Grindati C
- Olivero L
- Pagani G
- Peritore C
- Piscitelli R
- Simon S
- Spinelli C
- Taccini A
- Taurino C
- Triglia M
- Tuminello M
- Ventura R
- Vercelli A
- Villareale F
- Zacchi C
Collaborative review of the volumes: Vademecum del traduttore: idee e strumenti per una nuova figura di traduttore, Società Editrice Dante Alighieri, 2014; Tradurre: storie, teorie, pratiche dall'antichità al XIX secolo, Armando Editore, Rome, 2023
- Abbamondi Lorenza
- Ballan Sofia
- Boccasile Lucrezia
- Castiglioni Ilaria
- Castria Antonella
- Coppola Claudia
- Delle Foglie Lara
- Gardella Eleonora
- Gatto Eleonora
- Mancini Allegra
- Mazzocchetti Lorena
- Scurria Claudia
- Seminara Sharon
- Taccini Azzurra
- Taurino Claudia
- Vacri Giorgia
- Vercelli Andrea
- Vettor Teresa
- Villareale Federica
- Zacchi Camilla
Organizational and secretarial support:
- Villareale Federica
"Il Brigantino": A multimedia prison series in Bollate Prison
- Sofia Alchieri
- Sara Pazzaglia
- Beatrice Gavina
- Giulia Bonfanti
- Giulia Gorla
- Eleonora Borroni
Teaching of audiovisual translation and collaborations
2024
- Alessi Antonio
- Aloisi Marco
- Amedei Roberta
- Argentiero Simona
- Belfakir Yosra
- Bertarello Greta
- Bonaffini Giada
- Bonetti Alessandra
- Bonini Federica
- Borroni Eleonora
- Botticella Veronica
- Bragagnolo Anna
- Caffroni Tobia Andrea Alessandra
- Casiraghi Alessandro
- Cecchi Gaia
- Chiappara Silvia
- Consolini Elisa
- Cravana Giovanni
- Da Campo Gaia Pia
- Dellantonio Emily
- Depaoli Chiara
- Esperouz Shirin
- Finocchio Francesca
- Garofalo Chiara
- Gazzetto Sara
- Grimaldi Francesca
- Invernizzi Sara
- Lamendola Alessia
- Mandelli Giorgia
- Mariottini Ginevra
- Marvulli Sara
- Monti Martina
- Nani Federica
- Oppedisano Laura
- Palermo Giorgia
- Perocco Giulia
- Peruzzi Roberto
- Piazzalunga Lucia
- Polito Nicola
- Portaro Anna
- Potalivo Daiana
- Romano Alessia
- Sichinolfi Elvira
- Spazzini Sofia
- Stinà Daria
- Ternullo Dorotea Isabella
- Vai Paola
- Yang Junxia
2023
- Lorena Abbamondi
- Wahfa Adam
- Giorgia Azzolin
- Lisa Carnaghi
- Ilaria Castiglioni
- Antonella Castria
- Claudia Coppola
- Lara Delle Foglie
- Eleonora Ferri
- Eleonora Gardella
- Eleonora Gatto
- Letizia Maria La Gala
- Laura Lentini
- Carolina Marazzina
- Asia Mariancini
- Lorenza Mazzocchetti
- Giovanna Pagani
- Alessia Pineschi
- Rosa Piscitelli
- Claudia Scurria
- Sophia Simo
- Eleonora Spataro
- Azzurra Taccini
- Claudia Taurino
- Anamaria Elena Traficante
- Monica Triglia
- Giorgia Valente
- Lisa Vecchia
- Teresa Vettor
- Camilla Zacchi
Developing a tool to assess the usefulness of collaborative translation (CT) in academic frameworks.
The present research action has been carried out within the framework of translator training course and elaborated by the International Center for Research on Collaborative Translation in collaboration with Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, starting from the surveys already conducted by the research team guided by Professors Giuseppe Sofo and Yannick Hamon. We investigated how important the collaborative translation experience is for translator training, especially regarding the perceptions of the students and semi-professionals involved, through the administration of a specially formulated questionnaire.
The data collected and subsequently processed highlighted the undeniable usefulness of collaborative translation in the perception of the interviewees, as it entails not only an educational and professionalising development (Figure 1), but also personal skills (Figure 2a, Figure 2b and Figure 3). Moreover, these data prompted the researchers to further develop this direction of inquiry, delving into issues related to the technical characteristics of CT – such as the “time” issue (Figure 4), the reflection on the usefulness of anonymity (Figure 5) and the use of digital tools available online (Figure 6), or the benefit that would derive from its implementation in degree courses (Figure 7) – and the effects it has on the development of soft skills (Figure 8).
- Head: Francesco Laurenti
- Coordinator: Federica Villareale
This research action was carried out within the translator's training course and elaborated by the International Centre for Research on Collaborative Translation of the IULM University in collaboration with Ca' Foscari University of Venice, on the basis of the investigations already carried out by the team headed by Giuseppe Sofo and Yannick Hamon. The aim was to investigate in depth, through the administration of a specially formulated questionnaire, how important the collaborative translation experience is for the translator's training, especially as regards the perception of the students and semi-professionals involved.
In fact, the data collected and subsequently processed highlighted the undeniable usefulness of collaborative translation in the perception of the interviewees, as it encompasses not only educational and professionalising development (Figure 1), but also personal skills (Figure 2a, Figure 2b and Figure 3). These results prompted scholars to further investigate several significant issues related to the technical characteristics of CT - such as the "time" issue (Figure 4), the reflection on the usefulness of anonymity (Figure 5) and the use of digital tools available online (Figure 6), or the benefit that would derive from its implementation in degree courses (Figure 7) - and the effects it has on the development of soft skills (Figure 8).
- Scientific responsibility: Francesco Laurenti
- Coordinator: Federica Villareale
Cooperative Learning for Inclusion and Language Acquisition:“Moby Dick, a School play”
The project was carried out at the Istituto Comprensivo U. Ferrari di Castelverde (CR) and involved reading, comprehension, and finally a dramatization of the novel Moby Dick by H. Melville (Oxford ed. for middle school students).
The activity involved collaboration among pupils by sharing information and ideas to develop communicative and social skills in English. Students with special educational needs (SEN) were directly involved in the activity through cooperative learning, peer tutoring, flipped classroom, and role play, and they were able to take on responsibilities within the group.
- Project Supervisor: Francesco Laurenti
- Project Coordinator: Clara Pignataro
- Collaborators: Prof. Chiara Bernardello, Prof. Simona Aricò
Among the initiatives promoted by the International Center for Research on Collaborative Translation aimed at fostering innovation in frontier fields, this project provides professional training for interpreters in VR, allowing them to experience simultaneous interpreting in the new environments of VR and the Metaverse.
Dr Russello, who has also participated in the lessons of the “Computer-assisted interpreting workshop” (“Laboratorio di informatica applicata all’interpretazione”) at IULM University, has collaborated with the Center by teaching experimental classes on this topic in IULM, enhanced by the use of VR headsets.
For this project Simultaneous Interpreting of immersive videos and mock conferences are organised in the Metaverse and in VR. The sessions are aimed at students of our MA in Specialised Translation and Conference Interpreting, where interpreters can experience the realities of simultaneous interpreting in English, Italian and German in VR, and can experiment with the use of VR headsets.
This project will also allow for studies on cognitive load and the execution of simultaneous interpreting in the context of VR.
Scientific director: Francesco Laurenti
Coordinator (PI): Valentina Baselli
Research support: Claudio Russello (UNINT), Manuela Comoglio (SSML Carlo Bo)
https://youtu.be/23FwoYTRBAg?si=8IzZBSNBWTF00WTP
With the evolution of neural machine translation (NMT), machine translation has become increasingly accurate. This has raised the question of how close can such models come to the quality achieved by human translations, especially in contexts that are both creative and complex, such as music. This research explores how artificial intelligence (AI) in NMT deals with the complexity, creativity and multimediality of musical texts and how it manages to meet the typical requirements of a song, such as rhythm, melody, rhetorical figures, and repetitions, but also puns, idiomatic phrases and swear words.
The analysis will be conducted on a corpus of songs belonging to different musical genres in English and Spanish, using various machine translation tools. The evaluation will be both quantitative, measured with automatic metrics such as BLEU, and qualitative, measured via human metrics and feedback from translators, linguists and users.
The core objective of the project is to identify new implementations of NMT applied to musical texts and to contribute to the improvement of existing ones. The results will support users of NMT-based music translation tools for both academic and professional purposes.
Research supervisor: Francesco Laurenti
Coordinator (PI): Arianna D’Arrigo
Research support: Lara Delle Foglie