Controlled Language and Machine Translation

Controlled Language and Machine Translation

2004
Shadia Yousef Banjar

Assistant Professor in Linguistics

Abstract

This paper investigates the relation between controlled language and machine translation. The fundamental types of translation demand: dissemination, assimilation, and interchange are highlighted. The study presents the background and history of machine translation as well as the basic strategies of machine translation by elaborating the direct and indirect approaches. The concept of ‘Controlled Language’ is discussed together with controlled language components and tools. Types of controlled language are also pointed out. Examples of implementing controlled language in machine translation systems are provided. Finally, the study concludes that in order to get high quality translation texts which are chosen for translation must be rewritten in such a way to conform to the controlled language in the subject field.

A Synchronic Study of Metathesis in Eastern Arabic

A Synchronic Study of Metathesis in Eastern Arabic, with Reference to Makkan and Cairene Dialects

2003

Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar

Abstract

The present study focuses on metathesis as the phonological process whereby in certain languages and under certain conditions, sounds appear to exchange position with one another. This reordering of segments within the phonological string is discussed in details to give a formal account for metathesis. A synchronic analysis is carried out to provide evidence that describe the sequential change involving metathesis in Eastern Arabic with reference to Makkan and Cairene dialects at the beginning of the twenty first century. Makkan and Cairene Arabic are known to be the most understood Arabic varieties and thus they were chosen to be analyzed as representatives of Eastern Arabic. A synchronic description of the interchanging of sounds is illustrated in tables and a statistical result is tabulated. As a conclusion, the study recorded phonological variation presented in two different output of Eastern Arabic. Most of the metathesised sounds are the same in both varieties. Adjacent and non-adjacent metatheses are found. Synchronic metatheses occur between root radicals within the root itself. Root-infix metathesis took place too. This causes a change in verb pattern and thus an infix turned into a prefix. Finally, sonorant consonants are reported to be more frequent within the metathesised sounds.