Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
SpringerLink
Log in

Can Simultaneous Interpretation Help Machine Translation?

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Machine Translation and the Information Soup (AMTA 1998)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 1529))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

It is well known that Machine Translation (MT) has not approached the quality of human translations. It has also been noted that MT research has largely ignored the work of professionals and researchers in the field of translation, and that MT might benefit from collaboration with this field. In this paper, I look at a specialized type of translation, Simultaneous Interpretation (SI), in the light of possible applications to MT. I survey the research and practice of SI, and note that explanatory analyses of SI do not yet exist. However, descriptive analyses do, arrived at through anecdotal, empirical, and model-based methods. These descriptive analyses include “techniques” humans use for interpreting, and I suggest possible ways MT might use these techniques. I conclude by noting further questions which must be answered before we can fully understand SI, and how it might help MT.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Amtrup, J. (1997). Perspectives for incremental MT with charts, in Hauenschild, C., Heizmann, S. (eds.), Machine Translation and Translation Theory, Mouton de Gruyter.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Barik, H. (1969). A study of simultaneous interpretation, Ph.D. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Chernov, G. (1994). Message Redundancy and Message Anticipation in Simultaneous Interpretation, in Lambert, S., Moser-Mercer, B. (eds.) (1994), Bridging the Gap: Empirical research in simultaneous interpretation, John Benjamins.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Crystal, D. (1987). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language, Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Dancette, J. (1997). Mapping Meaning and Comprehension in Translation: Theoretical and Experimental Issues, in Danks, J., Shreve, G., Fountain, S., McBeath, M. (eds.), Cognitive Processes in Translation and Interpreting, Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Danks, J., Shreve, G., Fountain, S., McBeath, M. (eds.) (1997). Cognitive Processes in Translation and Interpreting, Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Daro, V. (1994). Non-linguistic factors influencing simultaneous interpretation, in Lambert, S., Moser-Mercer, B. (eds.) (1994), Bridging the Gap: Empirical research in simultaneous interpretation, John Benjamins.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Daro, V., Fabbro, F. (1994). Verbal memory during simultaneous interpretation: Effects of phonological interference, in Applied Linguistics, 15(4). Cited in Lonsdale, D. (1996), Modeling SI: A cognitive approach, in Interpreting, Vol. I No. 2.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Fabbro, F., Gran, L. (1994). Neurological and neuropsychological aspects of polyglossia and simultaneous interpretation, in Lambert, S., Moser-Mercer, B. (eds.) (1994), Bridging the Gap: Empirical research in simultaneous interpretation, John Benjamins.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gernsbacher, M. (1997). Attenuating Interference During Comprehension: The Role of Suppression, in Moser-Mercer (ed.), Methodological Issues in Interpreting Research (unpublished).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gerver, D. (1976). Empirical studies of simultaneous interpretation: A review and a model, in R. Brislin (ed.), Translation. Applications and research, Gardner Press. Cited in Moser-Mercer, B. (1997), Process models in simultaneous interpretation, in Hauenschild, C., Heizmann, S. (eds.), Machine Translation and Translation Theory, Mouton de Gruyter.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Gile, D. (1997). Conference Interpreting as a Cognitive Management Problem, in Danks, J., Shreve, G., Fountain, S., McBeath, M. (eds.), Cognitive Processes in Translation and Interpreting, Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Goldman-Eisler, F. (1968). Psycholinguistics: experiments in spontaneous speech, London Academic Press. Cited in Kopczynski, A. (1980), Conference Interpreting: Some linguistic and communicative problems, Uniwersytet Im. Adama Mickiewicza W Poznaniu.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hanon, S., Pedersen, V. (eds.) (1979). Human Translation, Machine Translation: Papers from the 10th Annual Conference on Computational Linguistics in Odense, Denmark, Odense Universitet.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hauenschild, C., Heizmann, S. (eds.) (1997). Machine Translation and Translation Theory, Mouton de Gruyter.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hönig, H. (1997). Using text mappings in teaching consecutive interpreting, in Hauenschild, C., Heizmann, S. (eds.), Machine Translation and Translation Theory, Mouton de Gruyter.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Isham, W. (1994). Memory for sentence form after simultaneous interpretation: Evidence both for and against deverbalization, in Lambert, S., Moser-Mercer, B. (eds.) (1994), Bridging the Gap: Empirical research in simultaneous interpretation, John Benjamins.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Jarvella (1971). Syntactic Processing of Connected Speech, in Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 10. Cited in Isham, W. (1994), Memory for sentence form after simultaneous interpretation: Evidence both for and against deverbalization, in Lambert, S., Moser-Mercer, B. (eds.) (1994), Bridging the Gap: Empirical research in simultaneous interpretation, John Benjamins.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Jekat, S. (1997). Automatic interpreting of dialogue act, in Hauenschild, C., Heizmann, S. (eds.), Machine Translation and Translation Theory, Mouton de Gruyter.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kay, M. (1997). Interpretation: The Translator and the Fire Hose, in Moser-Mercer (ed.), Methodological Issues in Interpreting Research (unpublished).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kay, M., Gawron, J., Norvig, P. (1991). VERBMOBIL: A translation system for face-to face dialog, Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung, und Technik.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Lambert, S. (1994). Simultaneous interpretation: One ear may be better than two, in Lambert, S., Moser-Mercer, B. (eds.) (1994), Bridging the Gap: Empirical research in simultaneous interpretation, John Benjamins.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Lane, A. (1997). LANTA List Posting, available at LANTRA List Archives, available at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7110/lantra.htm

  24. LANTRA (1997) List Archives, available at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7110/lantra.htm

  25. Lonsdale, D. (1996). Modeling SI: A cognitive approach, in Interpreting, Vol. I No. 2.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Lörscher, W. (1991). Translation Performance, Translation Process, and Translation Strategies: A Psycholinguistic Investigation, Gunter Narr Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  27. LuperFoy, S. (1997). Discourse processing for voice-to-voice machine translation, in Hauenschild, C., Heizmann, S. (eds.), Machine Translation and Translation Theory, Mouton de Gruyter.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Massaro, D. (1997). Information Processing and a Computational Approach to the Study of Simultaneous Interpretation, in Moser-Mercer (ed.), Methodological Issues in Interpreting Research (unpublished).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Moser-Mercer, B. (1996). Lecture, Georgetown University.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Moser-Mercer, B. (1997). Process models in simultaneous interpretation, in Hauenschild, C., Heizmann, S. (eds.), Machine Translation and Translation Theory, Mouton de Gruyter.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Moser-Mercer (ed.) (1997). Methodological Issues in Interpreting Research (unpublished).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Moser-Mercer, B. (1997). Beyond Curiosity: Can Interpreting Research Meet the Challenge?, in Danks, J., Shreve, G., Fountain, S., McBeath, M. (eds.), Cognitive Processes in Translation and Interpreting, Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Paradis, M. (1994). Toward a neurolinguistic theory of simultaneous translation: The framework, in International Journal of Psycholinguistics, 10. Cited in Moser-Mercer, B. (1997), Beyond Curiosity: Can Interpreting Research Meet the Challenge?, in Danks, J., Shreve, G., Fountain, S., McBeath, M. (eds.), Cognitive Processes in Translation and Interpreting, Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Prahl, B., Petzolt, S. (1997). Translation problems and translation strategies involved in human and machine translation: Empirical studies, in Hauenschild, C., Heizmann, S. (eds.), Machine Translation and Translation Theory, Mouton de Gruyter.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Seleskovitch, D. (1978). Interpreting for International Conferences: Problems of Language and Communication, Pen and Booth.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Shreve, G., Koby, G., (1997) Introduction, in Danks, J., Shreve, G., Fountain, S., McBeath, M. (eds.), Cognitive Processes in Translation and Interpreting, Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Toury, G. (1982). A rationale for descriptive translation studies, in Dispositio, 7. Cited in Shreve, G., Koby, G., (1997), Introduction, in Danks, J., Shreve, G., Fountain, S., McBeath, M. (eds.), Cognitive Processes in Translation and Interpreting, Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Georgetown University, The MITRE Corporation, 1820 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean, VA, 22102, USA

    Dan Loehr

Authors
  1. Dan Loehr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Computing Research Lab, New Mexico State University, Box 30001 / 3CRL, Las Cruces, NM, 88003, USA

    David Farwell

  2. SYSTRAN Inc., 7855 Fay Avenue, Suite 300, P.O. Box 907, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA

    Laurie Gerber

  3. Information Sciences Institute, University of Southern California, 4676 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA, 90292-6695, USA

    Eduard Hovy

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Loehr, D. (1998). Can Simultaneous Interpretation Help Machine Translation?. In: Farwell, D., Gerber, L., Hovy, E. (eds) Machine Translation and the Information Soup. AMTA 1998. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 1529. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-49478-2_20

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-49478-2_20

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-65259-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-49478-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation