Do Translators Dream of Electric Brains? 1 Ricardo Muñoz Martín Abstract Conceptual Metaphor Theory suggests that human thought is largely metaphorical, mapping concrete experiences onto abstract concepts. Translating is often understood through metaphors like TRANSLATING IS BUILDING BRIDGES, which shape how it is approached but fail to capture its full complexity. Similarly, the metaphor THE BRAIN IS A COMPUTER oversimplifies human cognition, ignoring its dynamic, adaptable, and context-dependent nature. Artificial neural networks, though loosely inspired by biological systems, rely on statistical patterns rather than genuine understanding. Large Language Models (LLMs) excel in producing fluent drafts but struggle with nuanced, context-dependent tasks. Misconceptions about AI capabilities often stem from oversimplified metaphors, fostering unrealistic expectations of replacing humans. Historical cycles of over-hyped machine translation breakthroughs highlight the persistence of such misconceptions. LLMs largely renew existing technologies rather than transforming the market. While they enhance translation workflows, they also increase reliance on the less rewarding post- editing work. Techno hype is also leading to declining translator enrollment and the closure of academic programs, even as market projections suggest strong growth. Despite these challenges, humans remain essential for managing ambiguity, integrating context, and making ethical decisions. Progress in multilectal communication and in AI would benefit from abandoning simplistic, binary views of humans versus machines. Keywords Brain-computer analogy; artificial intelligence; machine translation; situated cognition; Turing test; Grice’s maxims; translators’ roles. Introduction Conceptual Metaphor Theory (Lakoff/Johnson 1980) posits that much of human thought is fundamentally metaphorical. We map simpler, concrete experiences onto more complex or abstract ones that are difficult to understand or think through. For instance, the metaphor TRANSLATING IS BUILDING BRIDGES allows us to understand the complex concept of [ TRANSLATION] through the concrete and more visual experience and notion of [ BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION]. 2 Expressions like Her 1 This position paper is a written and updated version of an invited talk at the University of Wolverhampton, hosted by Prof Ruslan Mitkov in 16 April 2021, and a guest seminar at Queen’s University Belfast, hosted by Prof Ho Chen-En on 11 December 2023. 2 This metaphor is ubiquitous in translation studies and it is also implicit in the works on translation by Wilhelm von Humboldt, Wolfgang von Goethe, José Ortega y Gasset, Roman Jakobson and Georg Steiner, to name but a few. In fact, it is etymologically This is a preprint for academic access pruposes, and it is not apt for citation, Please refer to the version of register: Muñoz Martín, Ricardo (2025): “Do Translators Dream of Electric Brains?” Fachsprache. Journal of Professio-nal and Scientific Communication 47.1–2: 88–108. http://dx.doi.org/10.24989/fs.v47i1-2.4001