AI Translation in Poetry and Prose: Loss, Gain, and the Aesthetics of Machine Voice

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed the field of literary translation by introducing new possibilities and challenges in the translation of poetry and prose. This study examines the phenomenon of AI-mediated translation through the lens of Translation Studies, focusing on the dynamics of loss, gain, and the emerging aesthetics of machine voice. It explores the long-standing tension between fidelity and creativity and investigates how AI systems influence linguistic, cultural, and aesthetic dimensions of literary texts. The study identifies significant areas of loss, including diminished prosodic patterns, weakened sensory and emotional resonance, and cultural and intertextual gaps that affect the preservation of meaning and literary expression. Conversely, AI translation also offers notable gains, such as expanded multilingual accessibility, wider global circulation of literary works, enhanced efficiency, and the development of new hybrid literary forms. Furthermore, the study analyzes the concept of machine voice as a distinct aesthetic phenomenon that reshapes reader interpretation and challenges traditional notions of authorship and originality. Through theoretical analysis and comparative perspectives on AI- and human-mediated translations, the paper argues that AI translation should not be understood solely as a technological tool but also as a transformative force redefining literary production, reception, and cross-cultural communication. The study concludes that while AI introduces inevitable losses in literary translation, it simultaneously creates new forms of creative and interpretive possibilities that demand continued scholarly engagement. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence Translation, Machine Voice Aesthetics, Literary Translation, Fidelity and Creativity, and Poetry and Prose Translation.