Mikel Forcada (translation technology scholar)

TL;DR

Professor Mikel Forcada discusses his work in machine translation and translation technologies, emphasizing the importance of translators familiarizing themselves with these technologies.

Transcript

We're in Stellenbosch, South Africa with Professor Mikel Forcada - Is that how you pronounce it?

• Yes. Fine. I'm speaking Catalan and you're speaking Valencian, Catalan...? Yes, it is our Catalan - Valencian. Mikel, what's your job? I'm Professor of Computational Languages and Systems at the University of Alacant (Spain). Not of translation? I'... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🔬 Professor Forcada's research group, Tansducens, specializes in machine translation and translation technologies.
• 🤗 Apertium, an open-source MT platform developed by Professor Forcada, allows for the creation of MT systems in various languages.
• 🫵 Professor Forcada emphasizes the importance of translators familiarizing themselves with MT technologies, regardless of whether they view it as a friend or foe.
• 👏 The use of machine translation by the general public raises concerns about the potential consequences and the need to expand public knowledge of the technology.
• 🎰 Professor Forcada believes that machine translation does not necessarily need to imitate natural language to be useful; it should focus on effective communication.
• 🎰 Understanding machine translation and how to best use it is considered "machine translation literacy."
• 👨‍🔬 Research in the field should focus on the usage and reception of machine translation by non-professional translators and improving the user experience.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Apertium and how does it contribute to machine translation?

Apertium is an open-source MT platform that allows users to create their own MT systems for different languages. It is a valuable tool for researchers and developers in the field of machine translation.

Q: How does Professor Forcada teach translation technologies to students?

Professor Forcada teaches a course on translation technologies to second-year students of translation and interpreting. The course includes hands-on exercises in a computer lab, where students evaluate translation tools and learn to make informed judgments about their use.

Q: Is it necessary for translators to understand how MT works?

While it may be challenging for translators to fully grasp the inner workings of MT systems, it is essential for them to understand what they can expect from the technology. They should also know when and how to utilize MT effectively in their translation process.

Q: What kind of research is Professor Forcada currently interested in?

Professor Forcada is particularly interested in studying how non-professional translators use machine translation and the potential consequences of its widespread usage. He also focuses on improving the user experience of MT and exploring the unique characteristics of machine-generated language.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Professor Mikel Forcada is a professor of Computational Languages and Systems at the University of Alacant, specializing in translation technologies.

• He has developed MT systems and an open-source MT platform called Apertium, allowing the creation of MT systems for different languages.

• His research group, Tansducens, works on machine translation and translation technologies, collaborating on projects with organizations like the BBC, Deutsche Welle, and universities.