Manik S.A., Kharlamova V.A. Modern machine translation systems and their role in conveying author’s style (based on the novel “Ada, or Ardor” by V. Nabokov)

This paper deals with the study of a key problem in literary translation — the adequate rendering of a unique author’s style when using machine translation (MT) systems. The significance of the research lies in a comprehensive comparative analysis of the professional translation of V. Nabokov's novel “Ada, or Ardor” by A.A. Babikov and translations generated by the neural models DeepL and Smartcat. The article classifies typical MT errors when rendering complex stylistic elements such as metaphors, puns and allusions. Based on the analysis, it is concluded that machine translation tends towards literalism and stylistic simplification, which leads to the loss of crucial elements of the author's intent. Unlike a machine, a professional translator acts as a co-author, capable of deep interpretation
and creative adaptation of the text. Thus, the use of MT in translating stylistically complex prose is considered limited and feasible only in the preliminary stages, with mandatory subsequent professional editing.

For citation: Manik S.A., Kharlamova V.A. Modern machine translation systems and their role in conveying author’s style (based on the novel “Ada, or Ardor” by V. Nabokov), Ivanovo State University Bulletin, Series: Humanities, 2025, iss. 4, pp. 54—64.