1
Machine translation or
Automatic translationor
Computer-assisted translation
2
The translation of a piece of writing from one language
into another language using a computer
and a special software
3
4
PRE-EDITING FOR MACHINE TRANSLATION
1. Avoid idiomatic expressions. If you are not sure whether a phrase is an idiom, consider the literal meaning of the words. If the literal sense is not clear, try to express the same idea in a different way.
Not Suggested: It happens once in a blue moon.
Suggested: It rarely happens.
5
2. Use a pronoun before a verb, even if it can be implied and the sentence is understood without it.
Not Suggested: I studied history, but did not learn much.
Suggested: I studied history, but I did not learn much.
6
3. Do not omit the words that, which, who, and whom. Use them liberally. These words are often understood (implied) in English, but they are required in other languages.
Not Suggested: I know she works on Monday.
Suggested: I know that she works on Monday.
7
4. Use 's only for possessives, not to contract is or has.
Not Suggested: Mary's singing at the church tonight.
Suggested: Mary is singing at the church tonight.
8
5. Keep your sentence structure clear, simple, and direct. Break up longer sentences filled with many ideas into short sentences expressing one idea each.Not Suggested: The local government completed projects such as the construction of a new bridge which allows travel between our city and Springfield and has increased commerce in both communities.Suggested: The local government completed projects such as the construction of a new bridge. The bridge allows travel between our city and Springfield. It has increased commerce in both communities.
9
6. Avoid the passive voice. An active sentence uses the form "agent-action-object." A passive sentence reverses the point of view and emphasizes the object as the recipient of the action. Writers often overuse the passive voice.
Not Suggested/Passive: The ball was hit by the boy.
Suggested/Active: The boy hit the ball.
10
7. Do not split separable English verbs, such as "pick up" and "look up."
Not Suggested: I have to look the information up in our database.
Suggested: I have to look up the information in our database.
11
8. When writing dates, we suggest that you use the format: month day, year or day month, year. Avoid using numbers alone to convey the date.
Not Suggested: 24/10/97 or 10/24/97
Suggested: October 24, 1997 Suggested: 24 October, 1997
12
9. Write your documents in standard, formal English. In formal English, grammatical connections are clearly expressed: subjects agree with predicates, modifiers relate to what they modify. Unnecessary words are kept to a minimum. Clear, formal writing which is easiest for your reader to understand will result in the most comprehensible translations possible.
Informal English is marked by loose grammatical style that is typical of a conversation. This may be perfectly appropriate for conversation. It is not beneficial for the translation process.
13
10. If your text program includes a spell checker, use it prior to importing the document into the automatic translation program. The program will not recognize words that are spelled incorrectly.
14
When a text has been
machine-translated, post-
editing may be needed.
15
Pre-editing: preparation of a text for machine translation. Post-editing: revision of the machine- translated text.
A type of software for MT:
16
17
The same software and text edited :
An on-line MT site:
18
19
The same MT site with an edited text :
Top Related