MACHINE TRANSLATION -- NOT A DREAM 

Word has been recently leaking out about "Machine Translation" (MT), the ability of machines to translate from one language to another quickly and accurately. At my seminars I have been showing a video clip from Tokyo of a Fujitsu computer system quickly translating the words of a black Kenyan, who was in Japan speaking Swahali, via three satellite relays, to a Canadian Inuit (Eskimo) who replied from Iqaluit in Inuktitut.

A recent report from Frost & Sullivan Ltd. of London and New York points out that this field has languished, because the prime need is for marketing. F&S says vendors should concentrate on educating users about how to apply existing technology. The F&S report also points out a "political" factor, human translators is holding back MT. Human translators tend to view their work as art and see MT providing translation which, at best, lacks style. They also are not disposed to accept a machine that could threaten their profession. Such is the resistance to the status quo.

Frost & Sullivan say "that high-quality MT software will migrate to PC-based systems, causing a surge in usage ... as the market becomes more realistic about MT's abilities and limitations, there will be more use on interactive work stations where human and machine translators can assist each other".

More information: Sheila A. McDonald, Manager, Public Relations, Frost & Sullivan, 106 Fulton St., New York, NY 10038-2786. Phone: 212/266-0269 0r 233-1080. Fax: 212/619-0831.

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