Contributions to the discussion of L. Tarnóczi and D. Varga on machine translation

Abstract

Two controversial articles published in No. 5-6. May-June 1973. (p.329-358.) of this periodical aroused great interest. Problems of machine translations are discussed by the contributions received with different attitudes and interpretations.

L. TARNÓCZI (p. 833.) in his reply partly critizes the method of D. VARGA's debate, partly points to the problematic sides of computer apreadings. His critical remarks concerning computer application are connected partly with reliability and exactness of data proceasing, partly with advantageous and disadvantageous fields of applications, partly with economic efficiency of computer applications. His opinion is that social phenomena generally and language in particular are - according to their rules - resisting to the effort of computer modelling and processing.

F. PAP (p. 840.) joins indirectly into the debate. He illustrates the possibilities of computer applications in the field of language processing by describing research and experiments done by himself and his colleagues.

Mrs. E. SIMON (p.844.) deals primarily with the methods and manners of the debate. Her point of view outlined is that a debate must not be a preatige matter; that "conventional" translators and mathematical linguists have to join their efforts for the sake of machine translation.