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Rotary dictionary donation | Education | thecentralvirginian.com The Central VirginianThursday, October 20, 2022
Mandla App Introduces Dictionary to Transliterate African Languages, Revives Near-Extinct Languages - StreetInsider.com - Dictionary
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As part of its plans to leverage technology to preserve African languages, Mandla dictionary translates words into 100 languages for a start
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2022) - Mandla is pleased to announce the introduction of the Mandla Dictionary, the first multilingual, multidialectal, multiscriptual, and audio-supported online parallel dictionary for African languages.
Mandla
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Mandla dictionary is designed to revive disused African scripts like the Adlam, Bamum, N'ko, and Osmanya, one at a time starting with N'ko. This includes giving life to once-dead African writing systems like Nsibidi, Tifinagh, Kassena logograms, and Meroitic.
It also provides users with the translation of African languages as well as the transliteration of these languages from Latin and English through the use of writing scripts, voice recognition, and pictorial representation.
The Mandla Dictionary uses data sourced openly which is made available to users for free. It features definitions in each language both in a chosen native language and Latin scripts as well as English.
Mandla gives users free membership in the platform with the option of allowing members to add new words and examples to the dictionary, including suggesting edits to existing words and examples. Updates are sent to members on the status of words they contributed via email.
As part of its all-inclusive plan of African languages, the Mandla Dictionary currently translates words from 100 languages including Igbo, Yoruba, Zulu, Xhosa, Twi, Akan, Amharic, Moore, and many others, highlighting even some dying languages in its mission of digital preservation to avoid language extinction shortly.
Since the younger generation of Africans has lost touch with their mother, and some others struggle to find a platform that's all out to teach these languages, Mandla App has taken the lead in making learning these languages easier for them.
It also encourages people of non-African descent, especially tourists to the African continent to take advantage of the app and learn how to communicate fluently with locals. The Mandla Dictionary simplifies words and adds the origin of such words.
"While this is just the beginning, we hope to by the end of 2022 have the largest existing dictionary dataset for every major African language with transliterations of N'ko script as well as each language's native script," concluded Wenitte Apiou, CEO and Founder of Mandla.
The Mandla Dictionary is available at https://ift.tt/rLAShyW
Wenitte Apiou, CEO and Founder of Mandla
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About Mandla Dictionary
The Mandla Dictionary is an online word-translating platform that allows users to find out the original spelling, pronunciation, and tonation of 100 African languages by digitizing these words in incorruptible format with the use of the internet. Since its inception, it has grown to include contributors from different regions in Africa as well as Africans in the diaspora.
Mandla dictionary has revived the use of ancient writing scripts and systems in Africa with ongoing efforts to revive more.
About Wenitte Apiou
Wenitte Apiou is the CEO and Founder of Mandla. His mission to help other Africans who seek to know and learn their original languages inspired the birth of his company, Mandla. For two years, he has researched and worked with ten other members of his team to digitize dying languages, especially in Africa for future generations.
Media Contact
Company name: Mandla
Contact person: Wenitte Apiou
Email: [email protected]
Country: United States
Website: https://mandla.ai
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://ift.tt/nTvb72K
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Meta's New AI-Powered Speech Translation System Pioneers a New Approach For Unwritten Languages - Analytics India Magazine - Translation
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Until today, AI translation has primarily focused on written languages. Yet around half of the world’s 7,000+ living languages are mainly oral – without a standard or widely used writing system. Thus, it’s impossible to build machine translation tools using standard techniques requiring large amounts of written text to train an AI model.
To address this challenge, Meta has built the first AI-powered translation system for a primarily oral language – Hokkien – which is widely spoken within the Chinese diaspora. Meta’s technology allows Hokkien speakers to hold conversations with English speakers as the language lacks a standard written form.
The open-sourced AI translation system is part of Meta’s Universal Speech Translator (UST) project, which is developing new AI methods that would eventually allow real-time speech-to-speech translation across all extant languages, including primarily spoken ones. The company believes that spoken communication can help break down barriers and bring people together wherever they are – even if located in the metaverse.
Source: Meta
To develop the new system, Meta’s AI researchers had to overcome many complex challenges from traditional machine translation systems, including model design, data gathering, and evaluation. The blog reads, “We have much work ahead to extend UST to more languages. But the ability to speak effortlessly to people in any language is a long-sought dream, and we’re pleased to be one step closer to achieving it. We’re open-sourcing not just our Hokkien translation models but also the evaluation datasets and research papers, so that others can reproduce and build on our work.”
Moreover, the techniques can be further extended to many other written and unwritten languages. Meta is also releasing SpeechMatrix – a large corpus of speech-to-speech translations – mined with the data mining technique, called LASER. Researchers will then be able to create their own speech-to-speech translation (S2ST) systems and build on the Meta’s work.
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Using AI to Translate Speech For a Primarily Oral Language - Meta - Translation
AI-powered speech translation has mainly focused on written languages, yet nearly 3,500 living languages are primarily spoken and don’t have a widely used writing system. This makes it impossible to build machine translation tools using standard techniques, which require large amounts of written text in order to train an AI model.
To address this challenge, we’ve built the first AI-powered speech-to-speech translation system for Hokkien, a primarily oral language that’s widely spoken within the Chinese diaspora but lacks a standard written form. We’re open-sourcing our Hokkien translation models, evaluation datasets and research papers so that others can reproduce and build on our work.
The translation system is part of our Universal Speech Translator project, which is developing new AI methods that we hope will eventually allow real-time speech-to-speech translation across many languages. We believe spoken communication can bring people together wherever they are located — even in the metaverse.
A New Modeling Approach
Many speech translation systems rely on transcriptions. However, since primarily oral languages don’t have standard written forms, producing transcribed text as the translation output doesn’t work. So, we focused on speech-to-speech translation.
To do this, we developed a variety of methods, such as using speech-to-unit translation to translate input speech to a sequence of acoustic sounds, and generated waveforms from them or rely on text from a related language, in this case Mandarin.
Looking to the Future of Translation
While the Hokkien translation model is still a work in progress and can translate only one full sentence at a time, it’s a step toward a future where simultaneous translation between languages is possible. The techniques we pioneered can be extended to many other written and unwritten languages.
We’re also releasing SpeechMatrix, which is a large collection of speech-to-speech translations developed through our innovative natural language processing toolkit called LASER. These tools will enable other researchers to create their own speech-to-speech translation systems and build on our work. And our progress in what researchers refer to as unsupervised learning demonstrates the feasibility of building high-quality speech-to-speech translation models without any human annotations. This will help extend those models to work for languages where there isn’t any labeled training data available to train the system.
Our AI research is helping break down language barriers in both the physical world and the metaverse to encourage connection and mutual understanding. We look forward to expanding our research and bringing this technology to more people in the future.
Learn more about our AI-powered speech translation.
Virginia state delegate trolls liberals, suggests new dictionary word: 'Libinition' - Washington Examiner - Dictionary
One of Virginia’s Republican state delegates has suggested that “libinition” be added to the dictionary to represent how woke liberals are “applying alternative definitions to words.”
In addition to providing the definition, Del. Tim Anderson, who represents Virginia’s 83rd District, offered examples, including “if you disagree with me, that is a threat” and “creating new felonies for actual criminals is bad, but parents who don’t affirm their child’s gender are definitely felons.”
The Republican’s Facebook post followed several others that slammed liberals attacking him for speaking out against a Virginia bill set to be introduced by Democratic Del. Elizabeth Guzman that would assign felony charges to parents who do not affirm their child’s sexual orientation under an expansion of the definition of child abuse.
(Screen capture/Tim Anderson)
YESLI VEGA SAYS PUSH TO ‘STEAL OUR CHILDREN’S INNOCENCE MUST STOP’
Guzman has reportedly since backed down from introducing the bill, according to Just the News. The bill gained national attention, with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) tweeting his disgust.
“Utterly horrifying,” Cruz wrote. "These zealots think they are your children's parents, and they'll put you in jail if you disagree."
In Virginia, Anderson told WRVA that the bill represents the dangers of Democrats, saying “they’re that crazy” to make a huge spectacle of criminalizing parents.
Anderson has since taken heat on social media, with some calling him an “idiot” and a “disgrace to Virginia.”
In response, Anderson said, “To the trolls and haters … bring it on,” and posted photos of the comments to Facebook along with his replies, noting that such comments are his “North Star.”
“As long as what I am doing continues to offend you to your core — I know I am going in the right direction,” Anderson wrote. “Thanks for helping me — daily. Absolutely love you are my Top Fan. We don’t hand those out to just anyone. Only to the people who engage every single day.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Another post called for Anderson’s arrest, to which the delegate shared a photo of him at a state event, along with a “melting snowflakes” hashtag.
“I am in a room full of police and sheriffs with the Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and local leaders from across the Commonwealth,” Anderson wrote. “You can let the police know where to find me.”
Lost in translation: how to overcome language barriers in the IT industry - TechNative - Translation
Overcoming language barriers is now a real technology challenge for business leaders in the UK’s IT industry as it increasingly relies on foreign workers who speak English as an additional language (EAL).
For instance, in terms of the employment market, a broad range of IT roles are on the UK government’s skilled worker shortage occupation list. These high-demand roles include programmers and software developers, web designers and developers, plus IT business analysts, architects and systems designers.
Currently one in four workers in the UK Information & Communication industry (including IT) were born outside the UK, while in London this figure rises to nearly 50 per cent.
Due to demand, the posts mentioned above are eligible for UK working visas as the IT industry relies on attracting high-skilled foreign workers, who already make up a large proportion of the workforce.
Lost in translation
Many existing and future IT professionals don’t speak English as their first language and research shows that language barriers in the workplace contribute to inefficiency, stifle collaboration and lower productivity. Also, it’s reported that of all UK industries, IT and telecoms professionals are the most likely to work from home full-time.
This means that as remote workers, they can become frustrated and isolated, as collaboration and communication based around face-to-face communication is easier in the workplace for most people.
IT organisations must now work hard to attract and retain more foreign workers to help fill roles. Using the right digital technology to overcome language barriers can improve productivity, reduce mistakes, build trust, boost morale, and improve relationships.
Current translation solutions
Although there is a need for translation in IT, it comes with significant costs, plus it is not always quick and easy to implement. For on-site IT workers, having an interpreter present is a handy solution but it also comes with a relatively high cost. In addition, this option doesn’t help to foster a relationship between IT workers who speak EAL and their colleagues as there is always a middle person each communication must pass through. That said, employing bilingual staff can help with on-site communication.
However, these translation solutions can be impractical for IT workers who move around through different large sites, which is often required for companies delivering large government contracts, for example.
There are various software solutions available that can help and each of these options comes with its own pros and cons. For instance, whilst they’re relatively quick and low-cost many of them aren’t GDPR compliant, lack accuracy and rely on users having access to a smart device. This isn’t possible in many workplace settings, especially when security is a major issue.
Leveraging digital technology
Digital translators offer an effective way to communicate and help build relationships. They can help to overcome language barriers by providing instant two-way translation, both verbally and by translating photos of words on documents instantly, with a very high degree of accuracy.
These digital devices offer a higher level of accuracy and speed than many software solutions while also being GDPR compliant. They also tend to cover more languages including the less widely spoken ones. For example, the Pocketalk device covers 82 languages and removes the need for a smart device.
Ultimately, there is no faultless way to provide language translation in IT and every company will have different needs. IT companies that get the best out of digital technology will be well-positioned to attract and retain more foreign workers by improving communication, which is key for their future success.
About the Author
Joe Miller is the general manager of the Americas and Europe at Pocketalk. Pocketalk is a multi-sensory two-way translation device. It utilises the best translation engines around the world to provide a consistently accurate experience across 82 languages, including localised dialects and slang.
Featured image: Adobe Stock
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
What Happens When You Feed a Translation Program Utter Nonsense? - Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence - Translation
Indiana University cognitive scientist Douglas Hofstadter had a lifelong acquaintance with and admiration for the Swedish language and with the help of Swedish friends, became conversant with it. That led him in turn to try an experiment on machine translation programs such as Google Translate and DeepL. At Inference Review, he tells us, “although — or perhaps because — these programs have improved by leaps and bounds over the past few years, I greatly enjoy discovering and poking fun at their many unpredictable weaknesses.”
Thus the author of author of Gödel, Escher, Bach (1979) constructed a paragraph of pure nonsense in made-up Swedish, something like Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky,” which plays around similarly with English:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Most of the words don’t exist and the sentence has no meaning. But it is phrased as grammatically correct English verse. Here’s Hofstadter’s similar treatment of a paragraph derived ultimately from Swedish in similar way:
Sista mällingen frädde jag mina skvallrutor på en eller två djyvelräckiga drammsniggor, men det knackraddes ogrinligt vålsent för spjulingarna, och sen med de inluppta trämplissorna blybbade det otvickligt. Kvältsmusarna tryckades för tjabbriga i och till de spyrlösa fjöllsidorna, och vi trömmades välmåset med våra innansätsingar. Sen över det ledvist häppligt fliknandet lömnade vi, och flingade den vålfredsskjutliga hjornarens knövboltar. Framligtvist inklågerade jag mig fräsinglöst om att knupa hur de där inblitsna värstningstjuperierna skylle prälla. Vi var yppligt klickforniga över att ingen brusspil eller mänskivel spjällde klotiskt, och att inga förförlingsmässa blyxor näbblades. Det var så att säga hultsamt och multsamt, och även ypperligen gnålfritt, så att jag truppade nästan frukkigt med en gnisskurlig sopperfläcke. Kan man särvist åtvända det där som en tvörlig frösénsstjukare, eller sjöll man brysa en döppel härnäss för att vidstycka sig med rejella äktningsfylla snippflyggor? Det där vulle jag inte bjärkna, inte alls.
Douglas Hofstadter, “Wacky Jabber” at Inference Review (September 2022)
On August 15, he fed it to Google Translate and asked for the English:
In the last mælling, I spread my gossip panes on one or two devilish drum snips, but it was knocked unbelievably late for the children, and then with the slivers of wood thrown in, it remained undisturbed. The voles were pressed too fast into and to the barren fjöllsides, and we were thoroughly beaten with our insinuations. Then over the sadly fortunate flapping, we slapped, and flake the knuckle-bolts of the peace-sick horned. Of course, I complained incessantly about how those blinded worst-case idiots were supposed to act. We were very happy that no noise arrow or man’s disc sputtered, and that no seduction fair lights were snagged. It was, so to speak, merry and merry, and also excellently free of whining, so that I trooped almost frantically with a squeamish soup stain. Can one particularly use that as a sleazy froséen swagger, or should one rush a doppelganger here in order to be swaggered with solid, full-bodied bow ties? I don’t want to spoil that, not at all.
Douglas Hofstadter, “Wacky Jabber” at Inference Review (September 2022)
DeepL and the Chinese translation giant Baidu came up with entirely different complete nonsense. The comparisons of utter nonsense are breathtaking.
Hofstadter’s point?
Of course, none of the three machine-produced paragraphs has any meaning whatsoever, but the systems aren’t aware of that flagrant lack. This is because they have no notion of what meaningfulness and meaninglessness are. They are not thinking while translating; they are just doing very complicated but knee-jerk reflex operations with pieces of text.
Douglas Hofstadter, “Wacky Jabber” at Inference Review (September 2022)
Well, in fairness, the machine translation systems could not have noticed that the original paragraph was meaningless either. A human translator, by contrast, would pick up the phone…
He draws out the significance:
And yet they were all produced by sober, no-nonsense, deadpan, tone-deaf, and stone-dead programs that have nonetheless been trumpeted in many prestigious and influential publications — such as the New York Times, the Economist, and others — as being astonishingly powerful and supremely accurate translators.
Douglas Hofstadter, “Wacky Jabber” at Inference Review (September 2022)
Along the lines of Robert J. Marks’s recent book, Non-Computable You, the difference between sense and nonsense is not a matter of computation. Pretending that it is won’t end well.
You may also wish to read: Turing Tests are terribly misleading. Black box algorithms are now being trusted to approve loans, price insurance, screen job applicants, trade stocks, determine prison sentences, and much more. Is that wise? My tests of a large language model (LLM) showed that the powerful computer could discuss a topic without showing any understanding at all. (Gary Smith)
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