Báo cáo khoa học: A Framework for Syntactic Translation

Adequate mechanical translation can be based only on adequate structural descriptions of the languages involved and on an adequate statement of equivalences. Translation is conceived of as a three-step process: recognition of the structure of the incoming text in terms of a structural specifier; transfer of this specifier into a structural specifier in the other language; and construction to order of the output text specified.
Nội dung trích xuất từ tài liệu:
Báo cáo khoa học: "A Framework for Syntactic Translation" [Mechanical Translation, vol.4, no.3, December 1957; pp. 59-65]A Framework for Syntactic Translation †V. H. Yngve, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts Adequate mechanical translation can be based only on adequate structural descrip- tions of the languages involved and on an adequate statement of equivalences. Translation is conceived of as a three-step process: recognition of the structure of the incoming text in terms of a structural specifier; transfer of this specifier into a structural specifier in the other language; and construction to order of the output text specified. c ase of German-to-English word-for-word Introduction t ranslations. Over the years it has becomeTHE CURRENT M.I.T. approach to mechani- increasingly clear that most, if not all, of thecal translation is aimed at providing routines problems associated with word-for-word trans-intrinsically capable of producing correct and lation can be solved by the proper manipulationaccurate translation. We are attempting to go or utilization of the context. Context is to bebeyond simple word-for-word translation; be- understood here in its broadest interpretation.yond translation using empirical, ad hoc, or C ontextual clues were treated in detail in anpragmatic syntactic routines. The concept of earlier article.4 T he six types of clues dis-full syntactic translation has emerged: trans- cussed there will be reformulated briefly here.lation based on a thorough understanding of lin- They are:guistic structures, their equivalences, and 1) The field of discourse. This was one of themeanings. earliest types of clues to be recognized. It can, The Problems b y the use of specialized dictionaries, assist in the selection of the proper meaning of words The difficulties associated with word-for- that carry different meanings in different fieldsw ord translation were appreciated from the of discourse. The field of discourse may bevery beginning, at least in outline form.Warren Weaver1 and Erwin Reifler2 in early determined by the operator, who places the ap- propriate glossary in the machine; or it maymemoranda called attention to the problems ofmultiple meaning, while Oswald and Fletcher3 be determined by a machine routine on the basis of the occurrences of certain text words thatbegan by fixing their attention on the word- are diagnostic of the field.order problems — particularly glaring in the† This work was supported in part by the U. S. 2. Erwin Reifler, Studies in MechanicalA rmy (Signal Corps), the U.S. Air Force Translation No. 1, MT, mimeographed (Jan.( Office of Scientific Research, Air Research 1950)and Development Command), and the U.S. Navy 3. Oswald and Fletcher, Proposals for the( Office of Naval Research); and in part by the Mechanical Resolution of German Syntax Pat-National Science Foundation. terns, Modern Language Forum, vol. XXXVI, no. 2-4 (1951)1. Warren Weaver, Translation, Machine 4. V. H. Yngve, Terminology in the Light ofTranslation of Languages, edited by Locke and Research on Mechanical Translation, Babel,Booth (New York and London, 1955) vol. 2, no. 3 (Oct. 1956)60 V. H. Yngve2) Recognition of coherent word groups, such The other approach concentrates on trying toas idioms and compound nouns. This clue can obtain a complete understanding of each portionprovide a basis for translating such word groups of the problem so that completely adequate rou-correctly even when their meaning does not fol- tines can be developed.low simply from the meanings of the separate At any stage in the development of mechani ...