The Practical Implications of A Minimum Machine Translation Unit

Babel ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-150
Author(s):  
Amber L. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Machine Translation ◽  
Noun Phrase ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Linguistic Analysis ◽  
Transfer System ◽  
Analyse Linguistique ◽  
Semantic Errors ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Professional Translator ◽  
Business Correspondence

Abstract A great deal of speculation dominates the translation industry with regard to the effectiveness of (MT) Machine Translation, or translation software. This project investigates the conclusions of Bennet (1994) about the size of the UT (unit of translation), based on the raw translations of a sample text as produced by four competitive PC programs. These programs are all transfer systems, which employ a minimum UT, such as a single noun phrase. The sample text is an authentic business correspondence text. A linguistic analysis of the four translations is performed. Results of the analysis show that numerous errors are committed which require the intervention of the professional translator. This research concludes that, for this type of text, a transfer system is not cost-effective because it will still require extensive human editing. The semantic errors particularly demonstrate the need to emphasize research towards the development of translation software which incorporates a larger UT. Résumé L'industrie de la traduction est soumise à de nombreuses spéculations en ce qui concerne l'efficacité de la traduction informatisée (TI) ou des logiciels de traduction. Dans cet article, l'auteur examine les conclusions de Bennet (1994) concernant la dimension de l'unité de traduction (UT), basée sur les traductions brutes d'un texte servant d'échantillons et produites par quatre programmes concurrentiels sur PC. Tous ces programmes sont des systèmes de tranfert qui emploient une UT minimum, par exemple une phrase nominale simple. Le texte d'échantillon est une lettre commerciale existante. Les quatre traductions obtenues sont soumises à une analyse linguistique, dont les résultats indiquent plusieurs erreurs exigeant l'intervention d'un traducteur professionnel. Cette étude permet de conclure que pour ce genre de textes, les systèmes de tranfert ne sont pas rentables du point de vue du coût puisqu'ils doivent être corrigés par une personne. Les erreurs sémantiques en particulier rélèvent le besoin de développer des logiciels capables d'incorporer une plus grande UT.

The use of hydroxyethyl cellulose as a transparent filling material in finishing polish

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jülide Erkmen
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Hydroxyethyl Cellulose ◽  
Filling Material ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Alkyd Resins ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Water Saturated ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to propose a solution to decrease the environmental pollution caused by alkyd resins that harm the environment during their production and use. Design/methodology/approach A commercially produced polish formulation was used in the study. To reduce the use of this formulation in finishing polish, a water-saturated transparent solution of hydroxyethyl cellulose was used as a transparent filling material. Findings The use of hydroxyethyl cellulose at its optimum concentration in finishing polish only reduced the gloss by 0.027 per cent. The amount of alkyd was reduced by 24 per cent in weight. Research limitations/implications The literature contained highly limited information on this subject. No transparent filling material was found. Thus, no comparison can be made with other studies. Practical implications The results obtained from this study can help manufacturers in the polish industry to produce varnish in a more cost-effective and eco-friendly way. Originality/value Considerable amount of volatile organic compounds released into the atmosphere as a result of the use of solvent-based dye/varnishes in the woodworking industry alone proves the importance of water-based systems. The results of this study indicate both economic and environmental gain.

How absence can make the heart grow fonder

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 19-21
Keyword(s):  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Geographically Dispersed ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Using geographically-dispersed teams presents both opportunities and threats to firms. The option can be cost-effective and employees welcome the chance to operate more flexibly and achieve a better work-life balance. Separation of team members is an obvious problem but can be overcome through effective communication and building a sense of belonging that can generate perceptions of proximity. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Design of experiments – overcome hindrances and bad practices

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 772-789
Author(s):  
Nuno Costa
Keyword(s):  
Design Of Experiments ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Designed Experiments ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Technical Competencies ◽  
Design And Manufacturing ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Durability Performance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address misconceptions about the design of experiments (DoE) usefulness, avoid bad practices and foster processes’ efficiency and products’ quality in a timely and cost-effective manner with this tool. Design/methodology/approach To revisit and discuss the hindrances to DoE usage as well as bad practices in using this tool supported on the selective literature from Web of Science and Scopus indexed journals. Findings A set of recommendations and guidelines to mitigate DoE hindrances and avoid common errors or wrong decisions at the planning, running and data analysis phases of DoE are provided. Research limitations/implications Errors or wrong decisions in planning, running and analyzing data from statistically designed experiments are always possible so the expected results from DoE usage are not always 100 percent guaranteed. Practical implications Novice and intermediate DoE users have another perspective for developing and improving their “test and learn” capability and be successful with DoE. To appropriately plan and run statistically designed experiments not only save the user of DoE from incorrect decisions and depreciation of their technical competencies as they can optimize processes’ efficiency and products’ quality (reliability, durability, performance, robustness, etc.) in a structured, faster and cheaper way at the design and manufacturing stages. Social implications DoE usefulness will be increasingly recognized in industry and academy and, as consequence, better products can be made available for consumers, business performance can improve, and the link between industry and academy can be strengthened. Originality/value A supplemental perspective on how to succeed with DoE and foster its usage among managers, engineers and other technical staff is presented.

scholarly journals “Please give me an invoice”: VAT evasion and the Portuguese tax lottery

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 412-426
Author(s):  
Daniela C. Wilks ◽  
José Cruz ◽  
Pedro Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Course Of Action ◽  
Tax Benefits ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Voluntary Cooperation

Purpose The Portuguese tax authority implemented a lottery to encourage citizens to request invoices as a strategy to fight value-added tax (VAT) evasion. As the law does not require citizens to request sales invoices with the consumers’ tax number, doing so is a form of voluntary cooperation in tracking down tax evaders. The purpose of this paper is to understand why ordinary citizens decide to join forces with tax authorities in the fight against VAT evasion by requesting invoices with their tax identification number. Design/methodology/approach An empirical study was conducted to explore the underlying motivation for Portuguese consumers to request sales invoices with their personal tax identification. The study combines quantitative and qualitative data. Findings The results from this study show that rewarding citizens is clearly a factor to be considered in any policy to maximize citizens’ cooperation in tracking down tax evaders. They indicate that fiscal benefits have a stronger effect on the request of invoices than the lottery and that it is necessary to promote good governance and justice. Practical implications Findings should be used to inform a cost-effective public policy that takes into account citizens’ concerns and combine deterrent measures and rewards in the form of tax benefits, rather than tax lotteries. Originality/value This paper provides new insights into VAT lotteries, which seem to be increasingly favored by policy makers but are an area under-researched. By recommending a course of action to maximize citizens’ cooperation in tracking down tax evaders, the paper provides useful practical implications and is a contribution for the study of VAT evasion policies.

Examination of the Use of Nielsen’s 10 Usability Heuristics & Outlooks for the Future

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 1472-1475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Gonzalez-Holland ◽  
Daphne Whitmer ◽  
Larry Moralez ◽  
Mustapha Mouloua
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Interface Design ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Heuristic Methods ◽  
Heuristic Evaluation ◽  
Usability Problems ◽  
The Future ◽  
Usability Evaluation Methods ◽  
Practical Implications

Heuristics are commonly employed throughout various stages of the design process to evaluate the usability of interfaces. Heuristic Evaluation (HE) provides researchers with a cost effective and practical means to effectively assess designs. In this article, we aim to outline the development and application of one of the most frequently cited set of heuristic evaluation tools, Nielsen’s (1994) 10 usability heuristics. Nielsen’s heuristics have not only been applied to various modalities of interface design, but have also been compared to other usability evaluation methods. Moreover, in many cases they have been modified so that they can be applied in an ever-changing socio-technical environment. In reviewing these developments, we propose theoretical and practical implications of these heuristic methods and present an outlook for the future. We argue that with the rapid expansion and growth of technology in the last 20 years, Nielsen’s 10 usability heuristics may need an update to remain consistent with modern usability problems.

scholarly journals Investigating the usefulness of machine translation for newcomers at the public library

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne Bowker ◽  
Jairo Buitrago Ciro
Keyword(s):  
Machine Translation ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Community Members ◽  
The Public ◽  
Spanish Speaking ◽  
Evaluation Survey

This study investigates the potential of machine translation as an efficient and cost-effective means to translate sections of the Ottawa Public Library website into Spanish to better meet the linguistic needs of the Spanish-speaking newcomer community. One-hundred and fourteen community members participated in a recipient evaluation survey, in which they evaluated four different versions of a translated portion of the library’s website — a professional human translation, a maximally post-edited machine translation, a rapidly post-edited machine translation, and a raw machine translation. Participants also considered metadata such as the time and cost required to produce each version. Findings show that while machine translation cannot address every need, there are some instances for which the faster and cheaper post-edited versions are considered useful and acceptable to the community.

Sport for development and peace snakes and ladders

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Joseph Webb ◽  
André Richelieu
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sport For Development ◽  
Corporate Funding ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to better understand the factors that may improve or hinder the impact of sport for development and peace projects. Sport for development and/or peace (SDP) has been described as an emerging, yet under-theorized research field (Schnitzer et al., 2013). As such, few authors have analyzed the conditions, best practices and processes needed for achieving impact on context through SDP. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap in current knowledge. Design/methodology/approach – A literature review was chosen to analyze the focus and findings of the related body of work. Findings – A conceptual model of the dominant SDP process serves as a framework to identify and analyze concepts that may influence SDP impact on context. Moreover, this conceptual model provides insight about an apparent empirical incongruity between the theoretical and practical impact of this dominant SDP process on the ground. Practical implications – This paper opens a debate around the process currently deployed by SDP agencies to influence peace and/or development. Specifically, we question if indoctrinating sport-related values into child athletes, who then somehow influence their communities, is the most cost effective process for sport to contribute to development and/or peace. Originality/value – This paper addresses the paucity of insight about concepts that SDP agencies should implement to impact context. This contribution appears significant in a context of increased competition for funding. As growing number of SDP agencies operating in emerging markets compete for rarifying corporate funding, deploying cost-effective projects for development and peace may provide SDP agencies with a competitive advantage.

scholarly journals Cross-Lingual Bridges with Models of Lexical Borrowing

2016 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 63-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulia Tsvetkov ◽  
Chris Dyer
Keyword(s):  
Machine Translation ◽  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Effective Strategy ◽  
Lexical Borrowing ◽  
Lexical Information ◽  
Cost Effective Strategy ◽  
Training Examples ◽  
Cross Lingual

Linguistic borrowing is the phenomenon of transferring linguistic constructions (lexical, phonological, morphological, and syntactic) from a “donor” language to a “recipient” language as a result of contacts between communities speaking different languages. Borrowed words are found in all languages, and—in contrast to cognate relationships—borrowing relationships may exist across unrelated languages (for example, about 40% of Swahili’s vocabulary is borrowed from the unrelated language Arabic). In this work, we develop a model of morpho-phonological transformations across languages. Its features are based on universal constraints from Optimality Theory (OT), and we show that compared to several standard—but linguistically more naïve—baselines, our OT-inspired model obtains good performance at predicting donor forms from borrowed forms with only a few dozen training examples, making this a cost-effective strategy for sharing lexical information across languages. We demonstrate applications of the lexical borrowing model in machine translation, using resource-rich donor language to obtain translations of out-of-vocabulary loanwords in a lower resource language. Our framework obtains substantial improvements (up to 1.6 BLEU) over standard baselines.

scholarly journals Marian: Cost-effective High-Quality Neural Machine Translation in C++

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Junczys-Dowmunt ◽  
Kenneth Heafield ◽  
Hieu Hoang ◽  
Roman Grundkiewicz ◽  
Anthony Aue
Keyword(s):  
Machine Translation ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Neural Machine Translation
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