Re: Universal translators and Education

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Subject: Re: Universal translators and Education
From: Martin Owen (t.m.owen@bangor.ac.uk)
Date: Fri 12 Nov 1999 - 14:32:54 MET 

Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1999 13:32:54 +0000
From: Martin Owen <t.m.owen@bangor.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Universal translators and Education

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Machine translation, no matter how good, is only a partial solution to
problems.

There are many other reasons why I may need to transact uttereances
inanother language. The two most signficant are:
The creation of a social bond between the transactors (how easy it is to
slip into this nomenclature ;-) ) may require recognition of interest in
the other persons language and a willingness to participate in that other
language, it also require colour and nuance which come from para-semantics
like cadence and what actors call "beats".
Secondly, if I make an utterance I want to be completely aware of what it
is I am saying, if a machine has translated it for me can I be sure? Fruit
flies like a banana, and time flies like and arrow. This computer can wreck
a nice beach.

I am not saying that the fruits of language engineering can not contribute
massively to the learning. However the technologies we apply need to take
full cognisence of the social and cultural milieu of conversations.

Martin

Martin Owen
T.M.Owen@bangor.ac.uk

School of Education Yr Ysgol Addysg
University of Wales, Bangor Prifysgol Cymru, Bangor
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Bangor Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 2PX

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