When a page in a foreign language is translated with an on-line translator, the results disappoint.
The translation varies according to the used translator, but the quality doesn't improve.
Then the question arises: Can a good machine translation be obtained?
Definition
A language is a collection of words, of conventions and semantic rules.
(Although this definition is very simplistic, it is convenient to the purpose that is pursued)
Vocabulary: Collection of valid words in a language.
Grammar: System of rules which govern how to form the words, and how they combine to form sentences.
Spelling: Branch of the normative grammar that points out the rules of correct representation of a language.
Semantics: The study of the meaning of the expressions of a language.
Syntax: The order and the relationship between words and other structural elements in the sentences.
All language that can be developed on the base of this definition is denominated Formal Language. Any other expression way is denominated Informal Language.
Formal language (academic): The language that is used in schools, in text books, in businesses and in the government's transactions.
Informal language (social): The language that is used in daily conversations.
The objective of a translator is to translate a text written in formal language.
To get a good machine translation, the text should be:
- Grammatically correct : without spelling errors, adjusted to the rules.
- Semantically correct : meaning in the text.
- Syntactically correct : words and punctuation marks used correctly.
The quality of the translation depends on two aspects:
- A text written in formal language.
- A professional machine translator.
Professional Machine Translator
A good translation depends on the quality of the analysis of the translation and of the size of the used dictionary.
The most important factors that define a professional translator are:
- Wide vocabulary : possess the biggest quantity possible of words of a language.
- Powerful analysis : possess the possible biggest quantity of semantic and grammatical rules.
If a machine translator doesn't recognize the words, the grammatical structure of the sentence won't be understood. It can be due to two reasons:
1 - The word is not in its vocabulary.
2 - The meaning of the word is erroneous in the context.
If a machine translator doesn't understand the grammatical structure of the sentence, the words won't be located correctly, altering the meaning of the original sentence.
Suggestions And Common Errors
How to recognize a professional translator.
The test of the inverse translation is the best way to know if a translator is good, that is to say to check that the translation of the translation maintains the main idea.To get a good machine translation:
1. Avoid the informal language2. Avoid long and complex sentences.
3. Don't use capital letter unnecessarily.
4. Make sure that the original document is grammatically correct.
5. Use a spelling checker.
The most common errors:
1. Incorrect use of the accents. (Spanish to English).2. Incorrect use of the commas.
3. Incorrect use of the punctuation that separates sentences.
4. Words incorrectly spelled
Conclusion
The on-line translators, don't keep the norms of a professional translator.
Personally I have used several translators, the one that has provided me the best results is "Power Translator"
This article was written in Spanish and it was translated with "Power Translator"
Below the original text is transcribed.
Power Translator
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Cómo conseguir una buena traducción automática
La traducción varia según el traductor utilizado, pero la calidad no mejora.
Entonces surge la pregunta: ¿Puede obtenerse una traducción automática buena?
Una definición ayudará a obtener una respuesta.
Un lenguaje es una colección de palabras, de convenciones y reglas semánticas.
(Aunque esta definición es muy simplista, es conveniente al propósito que se persigue)
Vocabulario: Colección de palabras válidas en un lenguaje.
Gramática: Sistema de reglas las cuales rigen cómo formar las palabras, y cómo se combinan para formar oraciones.
Ortografia: : Rama de la gramática normativa que señala las reglas de representación correcta de un lenguaje.
Semántica: El estudio del significado de las expresiones de un lenguaje.
Sintaxis: El orden y la relación entre palabras y otros elementos estructurales en las oraciones.
Todo lenguaje que pueda ser desarrollado sobre la base de esta definición, se denomina Lenguaje Formal.
Cualquier otro modo de expresión se denomina Lenguaje Informal.
Lenguaje Formal (académico): El lenguaje que se usa en escuelas, en libros de texto, en negocios y en las transacciones del gobierno.
Lenguaje Informal (social): El lenguaje que se usa en conversaciones cotidianas.
El objetivo de un traductor es traducir un texto escrito en lenguaje formal.
Para conseguir una buena traducción automática, el texto debe ser:
- Gramaticalmente correcto : sin errores de ortografía, ajustado a las reglas.
- Semánticamente correcto : significado en el texto.
- Sintácticamente correcto : palabras y marcas de puntuación utilizadas correctamente.
La calidad de la traducción depende de dos aspectos:
- Un texto escrito en lenguaje formal.
- Un traductor automático profesional.
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Traductor Profesional
Una traducción óptima depende de la calidad del análisis de la traducción y del tamaño del diccionario utilizado.
Los factores más importantes que definen un traductor profesional son:
- Vocabulario amplio : posea la mayor cantidad posible de palabras de un lenguaje.
- Analisis poderoso : posea la mayor cantidad posible de reglas semánticas y gramaticales.
Si un traductor automático no reconoce las palabras, la estructura gramatical de la frase no será comprendida. Puede deberse a dos motivos:
1- La palabra no está en su vocabulario.
2- La acepción de la palabra es errónea en el contexto.
Si un traductor automático no comprende la estructura gramatical de la frase, las palabras no serán ubicadas correctamente, alterando el significado de la frase original.
Sugerencias y Errores Comunes
Cómo reconocer un traductor profesional.
La prueba de la traducción inversa es la mejor manera de saber si un traductor es bueno, es decir comprobar que la traducción de la traducción mantiene la idea principal.Para conseguir una buena traducción automática:
1. Evite el lenguaje informal2. Evite frases largas y complejas.
3. No use letra capital innecesariamente.
4. Asegúrese que el documento original sea gramaticalmente correcto.
5. Utilice un comprobador de ortografía.
Los errores más comunes:
1. Utilización incorrecta de los acentos. (Español a Inglés).2. Utilización incorrecta de las comas.
3. Utilización incorrecta de la puntuación que separa las oraciones.
4. Palabras incorrectamente deletreadas
Conclusión
Los traductores en línea, no guardan las normas de un traductor profesional.
Jewels Of The Hispanic Literature
Such the case of the literary works, where the interpretation of a text, goes beyond that written.
Discover and enjoy these excellent translations of two Latin American contemporary authors
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Feedback here!!
rose08 wrote...
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Posted September 19, 2008
Translations wrote...
Hi there,
I work for a large UK translations company.
There are a few points to make regarding automated translation systems such as those found online.
Software can be used for translation projects, but I would advise against it if what you're translating is intended ultimately for publication.
There are often so many cultural nuances to take into consideration that cutting corners by using translation software can render your message practically impossible to understand for your target audience.
And beyond popular European languages like Spanish (that being 2nd only to English and 4th overall in the world), you run the risk of dramatic misinterpretation.
Often the only way to go is to utilise the services of a professional translator.
Anyway, great lens though; keep it up. Good to have these things discussed so that people get the facts rather than being left to speculate and not get the results that they want
Posted August 04, 2008
jkrene wrote...
Great review and translation on this lens. 5*, Jol from Language Learn Spanish, Rocket Spanish
Posted July 27, 2007
