AI and the Translation of Idioms – Challenges, Success, and a Corpus Perspective

Filip Kalaš; Pavol Lipták

doi:10.2478/jazcas-2025-0023

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AI and the Translation of Idioms – Challenges, Success, and a Corpus Perspective

Journal of Linguistics/Jazykovedný casopis

Volume 76 (2025): Issue 1 (June 2025)

By: Filip Kalaš and Pavol Lipták

Open Access

|Nov 2025

Abstract

This study explores the capabilities of artificial intelligence in translating English idioms into Slovak, with and without contextual information. Using a dataset of 100 idioms and evaluating AI-generated translations against a validated bilingual dictionary of idioms, both qualitative and statistical analyses were employed. The results show an unexpectedly high accuracy in context-free translations, while context occasionally led to deterioration. McNemar’s test and a t-test confirmed a statistically significant shift in performance. The study highlights key advantages and limitations of AI, suggesting further research into reverse and cross-linguistic translation as well as employment of corpus-based methods.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jazcas-2025-0023 | Journal eISSN: 1338-4287 | Journal ISSN: 0021-5597

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Language: English

Page range: 258 - 267

Published on: Nov 27, 2025

Published by: Slovak Academy of Sciences, Ľudovít Štúr Institute of Linguistics

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 3 issues per year

Keywords:

AI translation,

idiom translation,

phraseology,

machine translation evaluation,

corpus linguistics

Related subjects:

Linguistics and semiotics,

Theoretical frameworks and disciplines,

Linguistics, other

© 2025 Filip Kalaš, Pavol Lipták, published by Slovak Academy of Sciences, Ľudovít Štúr Institute of Linguistics
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 76 (2025): Issue 1 (June 2025)