The DOD Problem in the Mechanical Translation Field
Abstract
Machine translation of languages (MT) has grown from a suggested idea in 1949 to a current effort involving some two and a half million dollars per year spread over thirteen contracts sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Central Intelligence Agency, and the three military services. Many related efforts in applicable theoretical study and equipment development exist. Typically, with some successful results claimed to be in the offing, pressures have been building for transformation of individual research programs into developments leading to routine production of machine translations at a high rate. Two proposals for such production centers- by Georgetown University and the International Business Machines Corporation- have been made. Hearings, in 1960, of a special House subcommittee have resulted in recommendations for a national mechanical translation center, and a National Academy of Language Sciences which may include such a center. Despite these external signs of growing maturity in the field, deeper investigation shows that it is in a state of turmoil. There exist in the DOD community many gaps, ambiguities, and contradictions in expressions of requirements and assessment of the capabilities of various programs to meet requirements. Further, these expressions within that community differ from similar expressions in other quarters having an interest in MT. The purpose of this report, prepared for the Assistant Director (Special Projects), ODDR&E, is to recommend a course of action for the DOD that will permit resolution of these uncertainties, establishment of a policy with respect to MT, and a program to implement it.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- ADA580519
Entities
People
- S. J. Deitchman
Organizations
- Institute for Defense Analyses