Machine Translation As a Tool in Second Language Learning
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/cj.v13i1.68-97Keywords:
Machine translation, evaluation, Hebrew language, computer assisted language learning, machine translation output problemsAbstract
The current major Machine Translation (MT) evaluation effort, funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), shows that when compared to expert human translators, MT systems perform only about 65% as well on the average. In this paper it is argued that despite their overall poor performance, MT software can be used as a powerful focal point to improve second language (L2) skills. The paper describes the evaluation of Computronics Corporation's Targumatik (Hebrew-->English), a PC-based MT system running under DOS, and shows how each problem and potential obstruction to learning can be overcome by means of discovery procedures using a set of tools and procedures called the 'learning algorithm.'
References
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Rüschoff, Bernd (1993). “Language Learning and Information Technology: State of the Art.” CALICO Journal 10, 3 (Spring), 5-17.
Slocum, Jonathan (1988), Ed. Machine Translation Systems. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Tarmon, Asher, and Ezri Uval (1991). Hebrew Verb Tables. Jerusalem: Tamir Publishers.
White, John S., et al. (1994). “The ARPA MT Evaluation Methodologies: Evolution, Lessons, and Future Approaches.” AMTA (1994, 193-205).
Yetiv, Isaac (1973). [lemád ivrít] Learn Hebrew: A Comprehensive Course in Modern Hebrew. New York: Shilo Publishing House, Inc.
ALPAC [Automatic Language Processing Advisory Committee] (1966). Language and
Machines: Computers in Translation and Linguistics. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences, Publication 1416.
Balkan, Lorna, et al. (1991). “Declarative evaluation of an MT system: practical experiences.” Applied Computer Translation 1, 3 (July-September), 49-59.
Birnbaum, Philip (1966). [ivrít Sotéfet] Fluent Hebrew. New York: Hebrew Publishing Company.
Blumberg, Harry, and Mordecai H. Lewittes (1982). [ivrít xayá] Modern Hebrew. New York: Hebrew Publishing Company.
Dumas, Joseph S. (1988). Designing User Interfaces for Software. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Flanagan, Mary A. (1994). “Error Classification for MT Evaluation.” AMTA (1994, 65-72).
Goodman, Kenneth, and Sergei Nirenburg (1991), Eds. The KBMT Project: A Case Study in Knowledge –based Machine Translation. San Mateo, CA: Morgan Kaufmann Publishers.
Halkin, Abraham S. (1970). 201 Hebrew Verbs Fully Conjugated in All the Forms, Woodbury, NY: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.
Hutchins, W.J. (1986). Machine Translation: Past, Present, Future. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Inbal, Shimshon (1992). User-friendly English-Hebrew Hebrew-English Dictionary. Jerusalem: S. Zack & Co., Publishers.
Isahara, H. et al. (1994). “Technical Evaluation of MT Systems from the Developer’s Point of View: Exploiting Test-sets for Quality Evaluation.” AMTA (1994, 126-133).
Neal, Jeanette G., et al. (1992). An Evaluation Methodology for Natural Language Processing Systems. Griffiss Air Force Base, New York: Rome Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command.
Nirenburg, Sergei, et al. (1992). Machine Translation: A Knowledge-based Approach. San Mateo, CA: Morgan Kaufmann Publishers.
NSF (1992). MT Evaluation: Basis for Future Directions. Proceedings of a workshop sponsored by the National Science Foundation. November 2-3, San Diego, CA.
Ravden, Susannah J., and Graham I. Johnson (1989). Evaluating Usability of Humancomputer Interfaces: A Practical Method. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Reif, Joseph A., and Hanna Levinson (1965). Hebrew: Basic course. Washington, DC: Foreign Service Institute, Department of State.
Rüschoff, Bernd (1993). “Language Learning and Information Technology: State of the Art.” CALICO Journal 10, 3 (Spring), 5-17.
Slocum, Jonathan (1988), Ed. Machine Translation Systems. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Tarmon, Asher, and Ezri Uval (1991). Hebrew Verb Tables. Jerusalem: Tamir Publishers.
White, John S., et al. (1994). “The ARPA MT Evaluation Methodologies: Evolution, Lessons, and Future Approaches.” AMTA (1994, 193-205).
Yetiv, Isaac (1973). [lemád ivrít] Learn Hebrew: A Comprehensive Course in Modern Hebrew. New York: Shilo Publishing House, Inc.
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Published
2013-01-14
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Articles
How to Cite
Anderson, D. D. (2013). Machine Translation As a Tool in Second Language Learning. CALICO Journal, 13(1), 68-97. https://doi.org/10.1558/cj.v13i1.68-97
