Gökhan Fırat
Academic and research departments
Centre for Translation Studies, School of Literature and Languages, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.About
My research project
Translation Work in the Digital Economy: Working Conditions of Translators on Platforms and in CooperativesI am a PhD Student and Postgraduate Researcher at the University of Surrey, Centre for Translation Studies and my current research is on the working conditions of translation workers. I specifically focus on digital labour platforms and translation cooperatives.
Before joining the University of Surrey, I worked in the publishing and translation industries for more than ten years as a book translator, editor, copy-editor, project coordinator, operations manager, business development manager, technology consultant and trainer.
I hold a BA in Translation and Interpreting and completed my MA in Translation Studies by focusing on the impacts of the current techno-political transformation of the language industry on translation and its workers.
Supervisors
I am a PhD Student and Postgraduate Researcher at the University of Surrey, Centre for Translation Studies and my current research is on the working conditions of translation workers. I specifically focus on digital labour platforms and translation cooperatives.
Before joining the University of Surrey, I worked in the publishing and translation industries for more than ten years as a book translator, editor, copy-editor, project coordinator, operations manager, business development manager, technology consultant and trainer.
I hold a BA in Translation and Interpreting and completed my MA in Translation Studies by focusing on the impacts of the current techno-political transformation of the language industry on translation and its workers.
University roles and responsibilities
- Postgraduate Researcher
- PhD Student
My qualifications
News
In the media
ResearchResearch interests
My research interests include; translation, working conditions of translation workers, technology and ideology, Chomskian linguistics, digitalisation and datafication of translation, economies of translation, translation cooperatives, and ethics in translation.
My current studies specifically focus on how different business models function and produce translation, how their work organisations, governance and business models are distinct from each other, how they impact the working conditions, job satisfaction, motivation and wellbeing of translation workers and whether they offer new possibilities for a decent, fair, democratic and sustainable future of the language industry.
Research interests
My research interests include; translation, working conditions of translation workers, technology and ideology, Chomskian linguistics, digitalisation and datafication of translation, economies of translation, translation cooperatives, and ethics in translation.
My current studies specifically focus on how different business models function and produce translation, how their work organisations, governance and business models are distinct from each other, how they impact the working conditions, job satisfaction, motivation and wellbeing of translation workers and whether they offer new possibilities for a decent, fair, democratic and sustainable future of the language industry.
Publications
Highlights
MA thesis:
Fırat, G. 2019. "Commercial Translation and Professional Translation Practitioners in the Era of Cognitive Capitalism: A Critical Analysis". MA thesis. Boğaziçi University
Open access: http://iris-server.library.boun.edu.tr/bitstream/handle/123456789/15770…
Articles in peer-reviewed journals:
Fırat, G., Gough, J. and Moorkens, J. (2024) “Translators in the platform economy: A decent work perspective,” Perspectives, pp. 1–19. doi:10.1080/0907676x.2024.2323213.
Open access: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0907676X.2024.2323213
Fırat, G. 2021. "Uberization of Translation: Impacts on Working Conditions". In The Journal of Internationalization and Localization (JIAL) 8 (1) by Julie McDonough Dolmaya and Minako O'Hagan (Eds). John Benjamins.
Link: https://benjamins.com/catalog/jial.20006.fir
Presentations in conferences and webinars:
- (November 2022). “Collaborative and Cooperative Translation in the Digital Economy”. Boğaziçi University
- (September 2022). “Collaborative and Cooperative Translation in the Digital Economy”. Centre for Translation Studies, University of Vienna
- (September 2022). “Uberization of Translation: Impacts on Working Conditions”. “Translation, Ideology, Ethics: Response and Credibility International Conference” organised by Vilnius University
- (June 2022). “Uberization of Translation: Impacts on Working Conditions”. 10th European Society for Translation Studies Congress, University of Oslo and Oslo Metropolitan University
- (May 2022) “Uberization of Translation”. Institute for Interpreters and Translators (ITI), Brighton, UK, (with Callum Walker)
- (April 2022). “Collaborative and Cooperative Translation on Digital Platforms”. Centre for Translation Studies (CTS) PhD Students Webinar, University of Surrey
- (May 2021). “Uberization of Translation: Impacts on Working Conditions”. STS Conference, Graz University.
- (June 2021). “Translation and Technology in the Time(s) of Cognitive Capitalism”. Surrey Arts and Humanities Research Seminar (SAHRG), University of Surrey
- (October 2021). “Collaborative and Cooperative Translation on Digital Platforms”. Centre for Translation Studies (CTS) PhD Students Webinar, University of Surrey
- (February, 2019) "Translator 4.0 in the Era of Globalisation 3.0". Elia Together 2019, Barcelona, Spain.
- (April 2019). "AI-Powered Machine Translation: Possible Benefits and Drawbacks". Adana Bilim & Teknik Uni., Adana, Turkey, 5-Apr-2019.
- February (2018). "We Have a Dream: Translation Village Project, A Case Study". Elia Together 2018, Athens, Greece.
- (April 2018). "Current & Prospective Effects of (N)MT and Post-Editing on Turkey’s Translation Industry". 2nd Translation Village Event: Translation, Nature & Technology Spring Camp, İzmir, Turkey.
- (2017). "The Role & Position of Editors in Culture Planning". Elif Daldeniz Baysan Colloquium for Graduate Research in Translation Studies, Istanbul, Turkey. Okan University.
- (December 2017). "Translator 5.0". Yeni Yüzyıl University Translation Club, Yeni Yüzyıl University, Istanbul, Turkey, 19-Dec-2017.
- (November 2017). "Translator 5.0". Boğaziçi University Translation Club, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey, 30-Nov-2017.
Translated and edited books
Fırat, G. Book Editor [into Turkish]. 2016. Who Rules the World?. By Noam Chomsky. İnkılâp Publishing House.
Fırat, G., Acar C., Diri B. Translator [into Turkish]. 2015. The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes. Vol. 2. By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Edited with Notes by Leslie S. Klinger. Everest Publishing House.
Fırat, G. Translator [into Turkish]. 2014. Making the Future: Occupations, Interventions, Empire and Resistance. By Noam Chomsky. İnkılâp Publishing House.
Fırat, G. Book Editor [into Turkish]. 2014. A Short History of the World. By J. M. Roberts. İnkılâp Publishing House.
Fırat, G. Book Editor [into Turkish]. 2013. Nuclear War and Environmental Catastrophe. By Noam Chomsky and Laray Polk. İnkılâp Publishing House.
Fırat, G. Editor [into Turkish]. 2013. Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Collection 1-4. A Study in Scarlet. The Sign of the Four. By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Arunas Publishing House.
Fırat, G. Translator [into Turkish]. 2013. A Christmas Carol. By Charles Dickens. İnkılâp Publishing House.