MACHINE MACHINE TRANSLATIONTRANSLATION

A precious key to communicate A precious key to communicate beyond linguistic barriersbeyond linguistic barriers

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What is a Machine Translation?What is a Machine Translation?

““Machine Translation is a computerised system Machine Translation is a computerised system responsible for production of translations responsible for production of translations from from one natural language into another with or one natural language into another with or without human assistance”without human assistance”

(Hutchins & Somers, 1992:3)(Hutchins & Somers, 1992:3)

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What is a Machine Translation?What is a Machine Translation?

Machine Translation Machine Translation system is a software that system is a software that produces the translation, whereproduces the translation, where

The The InputInput is the source text that we are trying is the source text that we are trying to translate;to translate;

The The OutputOutput is the target text, is the target text,

that is, the translation that we obtain.that is, the translation that we obtain.

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What is a Machine Translation?What is a Machine Translation?

Nowadays Machine Translation are widely used Nowadays Machine Translation are widely used on the web, thanks to free online services, on the web, thanks to free online services, such as:such as:

Google TranslateGoogle Translate BabelFishBabelFish Free TranslationFree Translation Microsoft TranslatorMicrosoft Translator

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Historical origins of Machine Translation Historical origins of Machine Translation

Research on Machine Translation systems Research on Machine Translation systems started in the 1960s during the Cold War, started in the 1960s during the Cold War, where United States focused on the translation where United States focused on the translation from Russian to English.from Russian to English.

However the result were not sufficient, However the result were not sufficient, because the Machine Translation systems were because the Machine Translation systems were less accurate than human translation.less accurate than human translation.

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Limits of Machine TranslationLimits of Machine Translation

Even today, people agree that fully automatic Even today, people agree that fully automatic high quality Machine Translation for unlimited high quality Machine Translation for unlimited texts is not possible.texts is not possible.

Machine Translation systems make mistakes Machine Translation systems make mistakes and have limitations.and have limitations.

However, internet users are tolerant, because However, internet users are tolerant, because Machine Translation systems are free and fast.Machine Translation systems are free and fast.

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Frequent mistakes with MTFrequent mistakes with MT

The main problem of using computers to The main problem of using computers to translate is the lack of real world knowledge:translate is the lack of real world knowledge:

Presence of Presence of structural ambiguitystructural ambiguity, , e.g. I don’t eat raw eggs and meate.g. I don’t eat raw eggs and meatThis sentence could be seen as:This sentence could be seen as: I don’t eat both raw eggs and meatI don’t eat both raw eggs and meat I don’t eat raw eggs. I don’t eat meat I don’t eat raw eggs. I don’t eat meat

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Frequent mistakes with MTFrequent mistakes with MT

Presence of Presence of idiomatic expressionsidiomatic expressions

e.g. IT - fare la docciae.g. IT - fare la doccia

EN - to have a showerEN - to have a shower

e.g.2 HR - napraviti domaću zadaću e.g.2 HR - napraviti domaću zadaću

(where napraviti means “do” and “make”)(where napraviti means “do” and “make”)

EN – to make homeworkEN – to make homework

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Frequent mistakes with MTFrequent mistakes with MT

Presence of Presence of proper namesproper names

e.g. EN George Beane.g. EN George Bean

IT George Fagiolo (legume)IT George Fagiolo (legume)

e.g. 2 EN Pink (the singer)e.g. 2 EN Pink (the singer)

HU HU rózsaszínrózsaszín (colour) (colour)

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How to avoid mistakes with MTHow to avoid mistakes with MT

As we said full automation of translations As we said full automation of translations

is not possible.is not possible. We have to prevent linguistic problems that We have to prevent linguistic problems that

are normal for us, but not for the computer.are normal for us, but not for the computer.

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How to avoid mistakes with MTHow to avoid mistakes with MT

One solution consists in the One solution consists in the change of the change of the structure of the source textstructure of the source text, to be easly , to be easly comprehensive for the computer.comprehensive for the computer.

This solution has a name: the This solution has a name: the Pre-editingPre-editing,,

how to simplify the input.how to simplify the input.

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The pre-editingThe pre-editing

Let’s make an example:Let’s make an example:

My cat My cat cannot listen to the radio, because cannot listen to the radio, because it it is deaf.is deaf.

Where the pronoun “it” refers to “cat” and not to the Where the pronoun “it” refers to “cat” and not to the “radio”“radio”

For human being this process is automatic, but not for For human being this process is automatic, but not for the computer .the computer .

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The pre-editingThe pre-editing

So, we have to avoid ambiguities, creating an So, we have to avoid ambiguities, creating an artificial sentence artificial sentence that is easy to translate for that is easy to translate for Machine Translation.Machine Translation.

1.1. My cat cannot listen to the radio, because it it My cat cannot listen to the radio, because it it is deaf.is deaf.

1.A 1.A My cat cannot listen to the radio. My cat is My cat cannot listen to the radio. My cat is deaf.deaf.

1.B 1.B My deaf cat cannot listen to the radio.My deaf cat cannot listen to the radio.

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Correct use of Machine TranslationCorrect use of Machine Translation

Remeber to use a correct formatting of the source Remeber to use a correct formatting of the source text:text:

PunctuationPunctuation SpacesSpaces Hard returnsHard returnsFor example, if you do not put a full stop, the For example, if you do not put a full stop, the

computer could think that the two sentences are computer could think that the two sentences are one. As a consequence, the meaning is different. one. As a consequence, the meaning is different.

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ConclusionsConclusions

Even though translations produced by Even though translations produced by Machine Translation systems are not perfect,Machine Translation systems are not perfect,

it could be an essential tool to communicate it could be an essential tool to communicate and read texts in a foreign language that we and read texts in a foreign language that we don’t know.don’t know.

Machine Translation systems are free, easy Machine Translation systems are free, easy and ready to use.and ready to use.

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ThanksThanks

for your attention!for your attention!

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