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Subject:Re: Machine translation From:"Bernard A. McCann" <bi975 -at- FREENET -dot- CARLETON -dot- CA> Date:Tue, 1 Oct 1996 22:32:52 GMT
(geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca) writes:
> Bernie McCann provided an appropriate warning: beware of
> translators who rely on machine translation. I agree, in
> part, but the warning is far too broad. Many skilled
> translators, particularly those who work in specific
> subject areas with restricted vocabularies, use machine
> translation to provide a quick first draft that they can
> subsequently refine. For them, the issue comes down to a
Permit me to agree, but with another comment. IF the translator realizes
that the machine translation *could* be ambiguous and, thus, must still be
referred to the original text, then it'll be ok, but note the "IF".
> Bernie also wondered about quality control with 100
> translators and 20 languages. A very valid concern, but the
> same issue arises with one translator and one language: how
> can you verify the quality of a translation? The best
> answer I've been able to come up with is to pick someone
> with a good track record and a willingness to work with you
> on revisions. Then, find an audience member in the 2nd
> language who can evaluate the translation. (You'd be wise
I agree, and wish that I had stressed that point myself. So I will:
DO NOT RELY ON THE TRANSLATOR FOR QUALITY CONTROL - USE AN INDEPENDENT
NATIVE-TONGUE SPECIALIST OF THE SUBJECT MATTER.
(Ask me why, and I'll tell you a great story!)
--
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Bernie McCann bi975 -at- ncf -dot- carleton -dot- ca
Professional technical writing, remarkable translation, and
efficient turnkey management of engineering and scientific publishing.
