Machine translation

Rendering of information from a foreign language with the help of electronic devices represents the latest development in modern translation practice. Due to the fundamental research in the systems of algorithms and in the establishment of lexical equivalence in different layers of lexicon, machine translating has made considerable progress in recent years. Nevertheless, its employment remains restricted in the main to scientific and technological information and to the sphere of lexicographic work. That is because machine translation can be performed only on the basis of programmes elaborated by linguistically trained operators. Besides, preparing programmes for any matter is connected with great difficulties and takes much time, whereas the quality of translation is far from being always satisfactory even at the lexical level, i.e., at the level of words, which have direct equivalent lexemes in the target language. Considerably greater difficulties, which are insurmountable for machine translators, present morphological elements (endings, suffixes, prefixes, etc.). No smaller obstacles for machine translation are also syntactic units (word-combinations and sentences) with various means of connection between their components/parts. Besides, no present-day electronic devices performing translation possess the necessary lexical, grammatical and stylistic memory to provide the required stand-

ard of correct literary translation. Hence, the frequent violations of syntactic agreement and government between the parts of the sentence in machine translated texts. Neither can the machine translator select in its memory the correct order of words in word-combinations and sentences in the target language. As a result, any machine translation of present days needs a thorough proof reading and editing. Very often it takes no less time and effort and may be as tiresome as the usual hand-made translation of the same passage/work.¹ A vivid illustration to the above-said may be the machine translated passage below. It was accomplished most recently in an electronic translation centre and reflects the latest achievement in this sphere of «mental» activity. The attentive student will not fail to notice in the italicized components of Ukrainian sentences several lexical, morphological and syntactic/structural irregularities, which have naturally to be corrected in the process of the final elaboration of the passage by the editing translator. Compare the texts below and find the inexactitudes in all sentences of the Ukrainian translation.

1. Communications and the EC

2. Public relations and telecom
munications must work hand in
hand to enable Europe really to
become one community. Martin
Bangemann looks to the 21st
century.

3. «Communications have been
the driving force behind the
creation and growth of global
companies.»

4. The European Commission
(EC) has expressed one vision
for the future of Europe in its
White Paper on Growth Com
petitiveness and Employment-
the Challenges and Ways
forward into the 21 st Century.

5. This document addresses

1. Повідомлення і EC

2. Суспільна інформація і
телекомунікація повинні
працювати рука в руці, щоб
дозволити Европу дійсно
стати одною співдружністю.
Мартін Бангеман дивиться до
21st століття.

3. «Комунікації були рушійна
сила ззаду створення і ріст
глобальних компаній».

4. Европейська Комісія (EC)
висловила одне бачення на
майбутній час Европи в Білій
Книзі наріст, конкурентно-
здатності й Занятість
Виклики і Шляхи Вперед у
21-го століття.

5. Цей документ адресує

¹ Марчук Ю.Н. Проблеми машинного перевода. - М.: Наука, 1983.

the facts that, in the last 20 years, the European economy's rate of growth has declined from 4% to 2, 5 % per year; unemployment has steadily risen; the investment ratio has fallen by 5%; and Europe's competitive position in relation to USA and Japan has worsened in regard to employment, export market share, research and development innovation and development of new products.

факти, що в останні 20 років норма (розряд) Европейської економіки (економії) росту знизилося від 4% до 2, 5% за рік; безробіття постійно зросла; інвестиційне відношення впало на 5%; і конкурентно-здатне становище (позиція) Европи відносно США і Японії погіршувалося у відношенні зайнятості, експортної ринкової частки, дослідження і нововведення розвитку і розвитку нових виробів.