Session 3, Activity 7
Activity 7 – recognising the importance of context in machine translation
Recognising the importance of context in OMT-produced translations is important because context ensures translations are more accurate and relevant. It captures subtleties that might be missed in the machine’s translations if they are too literal.
Furthermore, it acknowledges cultural differences and expressions and responds quickly to changes in the usage of languages, e.g. new words such as ‘coolcation’.
Overall, focusing on context when using OMT leads to clearer and more effective communication in the target language.
Now work through the following steps.
Step 1
Read the English sentences below and input them into OMT for a French/German/Spanish translation:
- The chicken is ready to eat.
- She has a lot on her plate.
- He let the cat out of the bag.
- She cut corners.
- She bent over backwards.
- The ball is in your court.
- She spilled the beans.
- She has cold feet.
- The man put his foot down.
Step 2
Analyse the translations and identify any pitfalls. What aspects of the English text has OMT not translated effectively?
Compare the machine-generated translations with what you believe to be an accurate translation. Correct the mistakes you’ve identified.
Discussion
For example:
English sentence: He kicked the bucket.
Machine translation: Er trat den Eimer.
Identified pitfall: Incorrect literal translation of an idiom.
Corrected translation: Er ist gestorben.
Explanation: ‘Kicked the bucket’ is an idiomatic expression meaning ‘died’, which requires a different translation in German.
Reflection: OMT often fails with idioms because it translates them literally instead of recognising their figurative meanings.
Step 3
Use OMT to translate the corrected French/German/Spanish sentences back into English and compare it to the original English sentence to check for consistency and accuracy.
Discussion
This activity helps to reflect on how context, idiomatic expressions and grammatical nuances impact OMT’s accuracy. It also highlights the importance of human understanding in translation tasks and how it complements learning with OMT.
OMT helps learners to recognise and correct common pitfalls in machine translation, improving their understanding of language nuances and enhancing their translation skills.
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