Steven,
>Is there a detailed description of how Mistica implemented
>auto-translation in their e-mail list program?
The <full system> which has been experimented during the first years of
MISTICA is well documented in http://funredes.org/emec. It goes much beyond
automatic translation and is quite costly in human resources. The techical
part is not documented: it was based in a PHP interface to facilitate and
integrate the team work around moderation and translation This software
boosted the productivity of the team.
The actual <basic level service> has been processed "by hand" for many
years (e.g. a person was in charge to cut and pace from the translation
software to the mailing list).
Only few months ago we have automatized this process by a PERL script which
interfaces, in one hand the web (translation software interface) and in
another hand the Majordomo (discussion list manager).
The system manages a certain number of options (with or without moderation,
parallel list or not, by language or not, DeHtmlisation...) which increases
the complexity.
The main technical difficulty so far has been in the absence of Linux based
translation software (as far as we know there is no availability in a small
price range). We have made an agreement to interface Guzman's Atamiri, but
this has been too slow moving and we were obliged to find alternatives. We
have tried hard to interface from our Linux server to a Windows based
software and that was a mess. The interface from Linux to the web is
functional (we have done that for years with our http://funredes.org/lc
method) but the cumbersome part is that the web services tend to change
with time which obliges to a steady maintenance.
With that procedure, Funredes is managing some 10 discussion lists with
automatic translation and this keep growing. Recently the free interface
from Systran new version was allowing a good translation from Spanish to
French (no bridge to English). Unfortunately it had become unusable for
technical reasons and we are back using Babelfish which is not so good.
We will prepare a more complete documentation of the external and internal
specification in the coming weeks, since it becomes clear that this type of
service Funredes has been pioneering for many years are becoming more look
after now.
If any body hear about an afordable Linux based translation software (being
free or not in not the point) please tell us; this would make so more
easier this service.
Este archivo fue generado por hypermail 2.1.3 : Fri Jul 1 11:02:37 2005 AST