As far as the records show, no one has spoken Shinnecock or Unkechaug, languages of Long Island’s Indian tribes, for nearly 200 years. Now Stony Brook University and two of the Indian nations are initiating a joint project to revive these extinct tongues, using old documents like a vocabulary list that Thomas Jefferson wrote during a visit in 1791.
The goal is language resuscitation and enlisting tribal members from this generation and the next to speak them, said representatives from the tribes and Stony Brook’s Southampton campus.
Chief Harry Wallace, the elected leader of the Unkechaug Nation, said that for tribal members, knowing the language is an integral part of understanding their own culture, past and present.
Of the more than 300 indigenous languages spoken in the United States, only 175 remain, according to the Indigenous Language Institute. This nonprofit group estimates that without restoration efforts, no more than 20 will still be spoken in 2050.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/books/06language.html
trešdiena, 2010. gada 7. aprīlis
otrdiena, 2010. gada 6. aprīlis
ATA-TCD Mid-Year Conference identifies threats facing translation companies
Few weeks ago ATA-TCD Mid-Year Conference gathered more than 100 attendees. This is an industry event especially tailored for translation company owners and senior managers.
Highlights of the show included presentations on sustaining high growth, trends in machine translation, technology planning, and quality standards, along with a look at how to protect language workers from harm and retaliation by advocacy organization Red T. Common Sense Advisory participated in a formal debate on how LSPs should approach technology strategy. The bookend talks served to illustrate the topics and tenor of the meeting.
The opening keynote by Jost Zetzsche identified four perceived threats facing translation companies:
Crowdsourcing
While crowdsourcing remains a hot topic, the speaker noted that crowdsourcing only works in specific areas and its overall impact on the industry will be limited – despite several high-profile cases. He suggests that company owners should recognize the benefits buyers seek from crowdsourcing and develop services with those characteristics.
Machine translation
About the second threat, machine translation (MT), Zetzsche made the observation that generic (including free) translation will always be sub-par but that customized engines in association with memories in fact represent a useful technology appropriate for many applications.
Data sharing
Thirdly, he observed that only larger, sophisticated organizations can take advantage of data sharing today. Moving forward, smaller agencies and even freelancers need to learn how to unlock value from shared assets rather than be mere bystanders.
“Ecosystems”
The last threat he discussed was the notion that “ecosystems” are being created by Lionbridge and SDL through technology and partnership programs, the inference being that smaller agencies, by choice or by accident, are either on the inside or on the outside of those respective business networks.
The message behind all of Zetzsche’s points was that each threat also represents an opportunity for service innovation.
Source: http://www.globalwatchtower.com/
Highlights of the show included presentations on sustaining high growth, trends in machine translation, technology planning, and quality standards, along with a look at how to protect language workers from harm and retaliation by advocacy organization Red T. Common Sense Advisory participated in a formal debate on how LSPs should approach technology strategy. The bookend talks served to illustrate the topics and tenor of the meeting.
The opening keynote by Jost Zetzsche identified four perceived threats facing translation companies:
Crowdsourcing
While crowdsourcing remains a hot topic, the speaker noted that crowdsourcing only works in specific areas and its overall impact on the industry will be limited – despite several high-profile cases. He suggests that company owners should recognize the benefits buyers seek from crowdsourcing and develop services with those characteristics.
Machine translation
About the second threat, machine translation (MT), Zetzsche made the observation that generic (including free) translation will always be sub-par but that customized engines in association with memories in fact represent a useful technology appropriate for many applications.
Data sharing
Thirdly, he observed that only larger, sophisticated organizations can take advantage of data sharing today. Moving forward, smaller agencies and even freelancers need to learn how to unlock value from shared assets rather than be mere bystanders.
“Ecosystems”
The last threat he discussed was the notion that “ecosystems” are being created by Lionbridge and SDL through technology and partnership programs, the inference being that smaller agencies, by choice or by accident, are either on the inside or on the outside of those respective business networks.
The message behind all of Zetzsche’s points was that each threat also represents an opportunity for service innovation.
Source: http://www.globalwatchtower.com/
Russian linguists create “Avatar” Pandora dictionary
Moscow, Russia (RT): Amateur Russian linguists have put together a dictionary of the fictional Pandora’s Na’vi inhabitants from James Cameron’s movie hit “Avatar.” A Beta version of the dictionary has been published on the websites of Lexicographers Association, created by the Abbyy software company and Russia’s Translators Union.
The Na’vi language was created by Paul Frommer, a professor at the Marshall School of Business at the California University, to fit the concept of Cameron’s project. The aim was to create a fictional language not closely resembling any single human language and at the same time pronounceable for actors.
For more information, please visit: rt.com/Top_News/2010-04-02/avatar-language-dictionary-russia.html
The Na’vi language was created by Paul Frommer, a professor at the Marshall School of Business at the California University, to fit the concept of Cameron’s project. The aim was to create a fictional language not closely resembling any single human language and at the same time pronounceable for actors.
For more information, please visit: rt.com/Top_News/2010-04-02/avatar-language-dictionary-russia.html
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