This paper explains a method of semantic analysis developed in the course of a natural-language research project that led to the computer implementation of the Multistore Parser. Positing an interlinguistic substratum of semantic particles of several different types (e.g. substantive, attributive, developmental, relational), a method is…

This first English edition of Trubetzkoy's classic work, translated by Christiane A.M. Baltaxe, treats some 200 phonological systems attested in the world's languages. Central to the book is the author's "Theory of Distinctiveness" which states that there are certain minimal distinctive phonic properties that appear to be universal…

Almost all of the published work on the philosophical question of mechanical intelligence has argued in favor of one or the other of the polarities of possible positions. It is however possible to take a position between these two extremes, those of the True Believer and the Infidel. While this agnostic position is not a strong position in the…

This report describes an optimization phase of the SYSTRAN (System Translation) machine translation technique. The most distinctive characteristic of SYSTRAN is the absence of pre-editing; the program reads tapes containing raw and unedited Russian texts, carries out dictionary and table lookups, performs all syntactic analysis procedures, and…

This issue of the Language by Radio Interest Group newsletter contains: an article by Paul A. Gaeng on his experience as a radio listener, an article by Richard E. Wood on "Radio Peking," and a partial reprint of frequency listings from the January 1976 number. Gaeng reports that, when he was a student in Geneva, he developed skills as a…

The mother tongue should not be used in the classroom. If the student is constantly allowed to translate he will never make the jump into the target culture. Translation is an aim that can be achieved only when considerable proficiency in the target language has been attained. (SCC)

This article describes the activities of the Chinese-English Translation Assistance Group (CETA), including the development of a dictionary of general terms, and the formation of files of colloquial, scientific, and technical terms. CETA also serves as a clearinghouse for information of interest to students of Chinese. (CLK)

The true criterion of poetry is the internal tension or charge of the language. Alternative expression of words, figurative language or turns of phrases that will reproduce the emotional charge is the critical question for the translator. Examples of lines of poetry in the original and in translation are discussed. (AMH)

In the translation of songs, to the usual problems of rendering meaning, symbols and imagery are added the exigencies of cadence, rhythm, tempo and tonic accent. The process is illustrated by an account of the rendering in French of the musical comedy, "The Fantasticks." (Text is in French.) (AMH)

Spanish-English bilinguals were tested for the speed with which they could recognize a word in one language as a member of a previously presented set of words in either language. Reaction time increased with the size of the presented set of words. Investigates the "translation effect" and its influence on information processing. (Editor/RK)

An analysis of terms used to translate the English real estate "developer." A comparative study is made of English and French definitions. The following terms are suggested translations of the English "developer": "Promoteur,""lotisseur,""amenageur," and "maitre de l'ouvrage." (Text is in French.) (AMH)

A discussion of three types of translation: formal correspondence, cognitive content and emotive response-oriented. The latter two are dynamic-equivalent translations. Their purpose is to enable the receptors to understand the implications of the cognitive content or to make a corresponding emotive response without recourse to the original text.…

An attempt to demonstrate the versatility needed by the translator of medical and pharmaceutical documents. There are lists of homonyms and false cognates, particularly in English, French and German, which would be useful to translators generally. A selected bibliography is included. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

Analysis of several translations of a single passage in the New Testament can teach students a great deal about style. (DD)