Use of Google Translate for Translating Scientific Texts: An Investigation with Saudi English-Major Students

Abstract

English is not the first language in Saudi Arabia, which makes most students face problems with the most used language globally, consequently pushing most Saudis to use the Google Translate (GT) application. This paper reports the attitudes and perceptions of Saudi EFL students on using Google Translate, the strategies applied, the number of editions they make, and the reasons for amending the Google Translate outputs. The study sample comprised 43 English major students at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection, followed by translation tasks where the participants would do translations between English and Arabic languages. Results showed that most of the participants frequently used GT in their English learning. The results also indicated that Saudi EFL students frequently edited the syntax produced by GT in addition to checking the meaning of some new words. The study concludes with some recommendations, most importantly that Saudi EFL students should be motivated and encouraged to make use of GT to conserve their time; however, total dependency is not welcome.