JPH0550778B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a machine translation device that can improve the efficiency of translation and editing work.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, machine translation devices that use a computer to automatically translate an input original text and obtain a translated text have been attracting attention. For example, various attempts have been made to develop natural language machine translation devices that input a Japanese sentence and obtain its English translation, or input an English sentence and obtain its Japanese translation.

This type of device basically performs morphological analysis, syntax analysis, etc. on an input original text, and divides it into predetermined processing units, such as words (phrases). Then, the translation dictionary is searched for each of the above processing units to find the translated words (translated phrases) corresponding to each processing unit, and these translated words (translated phrases) are combined according to predetermined translation rules to find the translated sentence. be done.

However, since semantic interpretation technology for natural languages has not been sufficiently established, it is extremely difficult to reliably obtain an appropriate translation using the machine translation described above.
Specifically, one source word has multiple translation candidates, for example, the word (find) has translations such as (understand, feel, find, discover, solve, see through, expose, discover). There are many things. Therefore, the linguistic expression of the translated text changes greatly depending on the selected translation word, and the semantic nuance of the translated text is likely to be misaligned.

Conventionally, a plurality of translation word candidates for each processing unit (original word) are presented to the operator, and a translated sentence is constructed using the translation word selected and designated by the operator as the most appropriate.

However, even when a translated text is obtained in this way, the translated text often still contains inappropriate translated expressions. Therefore, as a post-editing process for the translated text, there remains a need for the operator to correct the inappropriate translated word into an appropriate translated word.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and its purpose is to efficiently perform translation editing work on translated texts by effectively utilizing the knowledge information stored in the translation dictionary section. The purpose is to provide a machine translation device.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention provides a machine translation device that uses information stored in a translation dictionary to translate an original text to obtain a translated text. The machine translation device is characterized in that it converts a translated word into its original form, searches the translation dictionary for translation word candidates having the original word as a headword to obtain the translated word converted into its original form, and displays the search result.

In addition, the present invention selects and specifies one translation candidate from the searched and displayed translation candidates, grammatically analyzes the translation containing the arbitrary translation word, and converts the specified translation candidate into the translation according to the analysis result. It transforms the words into appropriate linguistic expressions and generates new translations.
This machine translation device is characterized in that it replaces the arbitrary translated word in a translated sentence with a generated translated word.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Thus, according to the present invention, the translation process is completed and
When the translated text and the original text are displayed, if an inappropriate translated word is included in the translated text, this can be corrected by effectively utilizing the knowledge information stored in the translation dictionary. In addition, the translation word candidate selected according to the result of grammatical analysis of the translation text is transformed and generated to modify the translation word so that it becomes an appropriate expression of the original language in the translation text, making it possible to perform the processing efficiently.

Therefore, it is possible to simplify the translation and editing work, and to obtain a translated text with an appropriate linguistic expression easily and efficiently, which brings about great practical effects.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, an English sentence is input and it is machine translated into Japanese. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus of this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an input section 1 consisting of a keyboard and the like. The English sentence input from the input unit 1 or the like is stored in the original text storage unit 2 as an original text to be subjected to translation processing.

The translation unit 4 uses the knowledge information for translation processing stored in the translation dictionary unit 5 in advance under the control of the editing control unit 3 to sequentially process the original text stored in the original text storage unit 2 in predetermined processing units. Process machine translation.

The knowledge information stored in the translation dictionary section 5 includes, for example, a rule/irregular variation dictionary 5a, a word (translation) dictionary 5b, an unconnectable part-of-speech sequence rule dictionary 5c, a translation dependency dictionary 5d, and the like. The translated Japanese text obtained by machine translating the original text using such knowledge information is managed in association with the obtained original text and sequentially stored in the translated text storage unit 6.

The editing control unit 3 drives the display control unit 7 to display the English sentence stored in the original text storage unit 2 and the Japanese sentence stored in the translated text storage unit 6 in correspondence with each other on the display unit 8. They are displayed simultaneously and the translated text is subjected to post-editing processing. This post-editing process is executed in accordance with control information input from the input section 1, for example, by referring to knowledge information stored in the translation dictionary section 5, as will be described later.

The translated text (Japanese text) for the original text (English text) completed after such post-editing processing is
The printing unit 9 outputs a hard copy.

By the way, FIG. 2 shows an example of the structure of the keyboard that constitutes the input section 1. As shown in FIG. This keyboard includes, for example, in addition to a key group 1a for inputting character data, a key 1b for translation instructions, a key group 1c for editing,
It is comprised of a function control key group 1d, a cursor control key group 1e on the display section 8, and the like.

Further, FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of a display screen for the original text and translated text on the display section 8. As shown in FIG. Here, the display screen is the translation editing area 8 at the top of the screen.
a, an original text display area 8b on the left side of the screen, and a translated text display area 8c on the right side of the screen. The input original texts stored in the original text storage section 2 are sequentially displayed in this original text display area 8b, and the translated text display area 8
In c, the translated text stored in the translated text storage section 6 is displayed in correspondence with the original text from which the translated text was obtained. In the translation editing area 8a, information necessary for the translation process, such as translation word candidates searched from the translation dictionary section 5 and provided for the translation process, is displayed.

FIG. 4 shows the basic operation sequence of the embodiment apparatus configured as described above. In accordance with such an operation sequence, the editing control section 3 determines the translation end information given from the translation section 4 and various key information input from the input section 1, and interactively performs the translation/editing process. Control.

That is, the editing control unit 3 monitors the translation processing status in the translation unit 4 (step A), and when it detects that the translation processing of one original text in the translation unit 4 is completed, the editing control unit 3 updates the translated text obtained by the translation processing. is stored in the translated text storage unit 6, and the translated text is displayed on the display unit 8 in correspondence with the original text (Step B).

Furthermore, when the translation process is continuing in the translation unit 4 or when the translation process is not being performed, the editing control unit 3 judges the key information input from the input unit 1 (Steps C, D, and E). ,F). If the input key information is a "translation instruction key" (step C), the editing control section 3
The input original text stored in is given to the translation section 4, and the translation process is started (step G).

Further, when the input key information is a "character key" (step D), the character code indicated by the character key is stored in the input buffer (step H), and the character code is stored in the original text storage section 2. , the character pattern is displayed on the display section 8 (step I). The original text input from the input section 1 is displayed by displaying each character pattern of the character code stored in this input buffer.

Further, if the input key information is an "edit key" (step E), editing processing corresponding to the edit key is executed on the translated sentence (step J). Similarly, if the input key information is a "function key" (step F), the process corresponding to the function key is executed (step K).

If no key information is input, or if the input key information is something other than the above-mentioned "key", other processing, such as the translation storage unit 6, is performed.
The translated text is then output as a hard copy.

According to such an operation sequence of the editing control unit 3, for example, when an operator inputs characters by operating the character input key group 1a of the keyboard, the character information is sequentially set in the input buffer and the original text to be subjected to translation processing. The original text is sequentially stored in the original text storage unit 2 as (steps D and H). The input original text is then displayed in the original text display area 8b of the display section 8 (Step I).

However, if you operate the translation instruction key 1b at any point in character input, for example, at the end of inputting one sentence,
Translation processing for the input original text stored in the input buffer is started in accordance with the key input information (steps C and G). When the translation process is completed, the translation thus obtained is displayed in the translation display area 8c of the display section 8 (steps A and B).

If it is necessary to edit the input original text, for example, while inputting the original text by operating the character input key group 1a, operate the cursor control key group 1e to move the cursor to the correction point, correction·
The editing process is executed by operating the editing key group 1c such as insertion and deletion (steps E and J).

In this way, the basic operations of machine translation processing are controlled.

By the way, the translation process of the original text is executed as follows, for example.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the processing sequence.

The translation section 4 first analyzes the linguistic form of the original text to be translated using the rule/irregular variation dictionary 5a (step P). Through this morphological analysis, for example, an original word that has undergone a conjugation change or an inflection change is converted into its original form (basic form).

Next, information such as part-of-speech information and translated words is obtained for each original word of the original sentence morphologically analyzed as described above using the translation dictionary 5b (step Q). This process is carried out using the translation dictionary 5 using the original word as a headword.
This is done by searching b.

Thereafter, the connectability of the translation word candidates is verified according to the dictionary searched information (step R).
This verification is performed with reference to the unconnectable part-of-speech string rule 5c, and is repeatedly performed until a consistent parsing result (arrangement of part-of-speech strings of translation word candidates) is obtained. Through this syntactic analysis, the arrangement structure of the parts of speech of the original language that makes up the original sentence, their dependency relationships, the mode of tense, etc. are determined.

Thereafter, the structure of the parsed original sentence is converted into the syntactic structure of a translated sentence using the translation dependency dictionary 5d, and a translated sentence consisting of a list of translation word candidates for each source language is generated (step S). At this time, each translated word candidate is subjected to conjugation transformation and ending transformation processing according to the syntactic analysis result of the original sentence, and the translated sentence is expressed in an appropriate language.

A translated text for the original text obtained through such translation processing is stored in the translated text storage section 6 and displayed in correspondence with the original text. still,
If multiple types of translations for one original text are obtained, for example, only one translation may be displayed, and at the same time, the existence of other translations may be identified and displayed.

By the way, if an instruction is input using the editing key after the translated text obtained in this way and the original text from which the translated text has been obtained are displayed on the display section 8, the translation editing process for the translated text is performed as follows. It will be done.

The translation editing process for this translated text is to perform processing corresponding to the operated edit key on the word (original word, original word phrase, translated word, translated word phrase) indicated by the cursor on the screen of the display section 8. This is realized by Specifically, by operating the insert key, you can insert a character before the cursor position, by operating the delete key, you can delete the character string in the range indicated by the cursor, and by operating the movement key. Move the character string in the range indicated by the cursor, Disable each editing function specified by each of the above keys by operating the Cancel key, Move the cursor as indicated by operating the Dependency key It consists of translation editing processing such as displaying other modification candidates for the word/phrase being used.

Further, when the above-mentioned function control keys are operated, the following functions are provided and are used for translation editing of the above-mentioned translated text. That is, when the translation display key is operated, the translated word is displayed for the word in the translated text that the cursor points to, and when the dictionary display key is operated, the word in the original text that the cursor is pointing to is displayed. Displays the contents of the translation dictionary as a headword. When the dictionary registration key is operated, the character string indicated by the cursor is registered in the dictionary as a new word/idiom. When the dictionary deletion key is operated, the new word registered in the dictionary is displayed. - Delete the registration of an idiom. When the partial translation key is operated, this is indicated by the cursor and is realized by functions such as displaying a partial translation of the original text for which translation processing has failed.

In addition, the above-mentioned instructions such as character strings (words) using the cursor can be made by moving the cursor on the display screen by operating the cursor movement keys and changing the cursor size by using the cursor control keys. It will be done.

By using these various functions, post-processing such as correcting the translated text as described above is performed interactively.

The above are the basic translation processing functions that this device has. The feature of this device is that knowledge information such as the translation dictionary 5b stored in the translation dictionary unit 5 can be actively used when correcting inappropriate translations in the translated text. It is in.

That is, in a state where the original text and the translated text are displayed as shown in FIG. A translation candidate for the original word and a translation candidate for the original word from which the translation was obtained are obtained from the translation dictionary section 5, and these are obtained from the sixth translation dictionary section.
The screen is displayed as shown in Figure b. When one translation candidate is selected from among the displayed translation candidates, the selected translation is transformed and generated so that it becomes an appropriate linguistic expression in the translated sentence, as shown in Figure 6c. The present invention is characterized in that the translated text is corrected by replacing the translated word to be corrected in the original text.

FIG. 7 shows the processing sequence, and the flow will be explained with reference to FIG. 6.

Now, when the translated word correction mode is set and a word in the original or translated text is specified with the cursor on the display screen, the first thing to do is to check whether the specified word is the original word in the original text or the translated word in the translated text. is determined. The word indicated by the cursor is in the original language display area 8
If it is the original language displayed in section b, the original language is first identified (step a).

On the other hand, when a translated word is indicated by the cursor, the translated word is first specified (step b).
Then, the original word from which the translated word was obtained is identified from the original text corresponding to the translated text containing the designated translated word (step c). The original word corresponding to the translated word is specified by, for example, referring to a table showing the word correspondence between the original text and the translated text, as shown in FIG.

Once the translated word to be corrected and the original word from which the translated word was obtained are identified in this way, the original form of the translated sentence containing the translated word is grammatically analyzed, and the analysis results are stored (step d). ). Then, the original form conversion process of the specified original word is performed (step e). This original form conversion process is performed by selecting the original form if there are multiple possibilities.

For example, if the original word ``found'' in the original sentence ``I found the hospital.'' is specified, this source word may be the present tense of ``found'' (verb) and ``find'' (verb). )' may be the past tense. Therefore, first, one of them is specified, for example, according to the result of semantic analysis of the original text. If the source word specified above is specified as the past tense of "find," then the specified source word is converted into the specified form by the original form conversion process (including irregular conversion rules) from <past tense> to <present tense; basic form>. Find the original form ``find'' of the original word ``found''. This basic form conversion process includes, for example, the process of converting "boy's" into "boy" in the form <possessive form> → <base form>, the process of converting "boy's" into "boy" in the form <progressive form> → <base form>, etc. This includes processing such as converting ``going'' to ``go,'' and further processing such as converting ``better, best'' into ``good,'' in the form <comparative form/superlative form> → <basic form>.

Thereafter, a dictionary search is performed using the original form of the specified original word as a headword (step f), and the translation word candidates found through this dictionary search are, for example, the 6th word candidate.
The screen is displayed as shown in Figure b (step g).

If an appropriate translated word expression exists among the translated word candidates displayed in this manner, the translated word candidate is designated (step h). Then, a transformation process is applied to the designated translation word candidate according to the above-mentioned result of the grammatical analysis of the translated text, and the translation is transformed so that it becomes an appropriate expression of the original word in the translated text (step i).

For example, when the translation candidate ``discover'' is selected from among the translation candidates for the original word ``find,'' the word to be corrected in the translated sentence found earlier is the past tense ``found.'' , is transformed into the translated word ``I discovered it.'' This transformation of the translated word may be generated according to the parsing grammar rules as illustrated in FIGS. 9a to 9e, for example.

Specifically, the translated word ``found'' is grammatically analyzed as ``found, mashi, ta,'' and the structure is analyzed as ``find (1st paragraph) + (style = death mass) + (tense = past)''. According to this grammatical structure, the translation candidate for ``discovered'' can be transformed into ``discovered'' and generated.

By replacing the translated word ``discovered'' obtained in this way with the translated word ``found'' to be corrected in the translation (step j), the translation correction is completed.

In this way, according to the present device, information on translation candidates related to the translation to be corrected can be effectively obtained by actively utilizing the knowledge information stored in the translation dictionary.

That is, when executing translation processing, it is possible to select translation candidates required from the translation dictionary each time and select an appropriate translation word, but when the translation processing is completed and the translated text and its translated text are obtained. At the time when the original text is displayed, the connection between the original text and the translated text and the translation dictionary is temporarily disconnected. Even in such a state, by specifying a word in the displayed original or translated text and operating the dictionary display key, you can search the translation dictionary 5 for translation candidates that use the original form of the original word as the headword. Since the knowledge information stored in the translation dictionary can be displayed effectively,
The translation and editing can be performed efficiently.

Moreover, the target word candidates selected according to the results of grammatical analysis of the translated text are transformed into an appropriate linguistic expression form in the translated text and then used for correcting the translated word, so that the semantic information of the original text is well reflected and the language is expressed appropriately. It is possible to easily and effectively obtain a translated text.

Therefore, great practical effects can be achieved, such as simplifying translation and editing processing and making it more efficient.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, methods for generating modified translation candidates,
The grammar analysis method for generating transformations can be set according to the specifications. Further, here, translation and editing are performed using words as processing units, but words may be used as processing units. It is also possible, of course, to obtain all translation candidates for a specified language from a translation dictionary, display them, and use them to correct translations. In short, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist thereof.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure shows a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a schematic configuration diagram of the device, Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the keyboard, Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen,
Figure 4 shows the basic operation sequence, Figure 5
6 is a diagram showing a translation processing sequence, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of dictionary display, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing sequence of dictionary display, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a table showing word correspondence. , FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a method of grammar analysis. 1... Input section, 2... Original text storage section, 3... Edit control section, 4... Translation section, 5... Translation dictionary section, 6...
...Translation storage unit, 7...Display control unit, 8...Display unit, 9...Printing unit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A translation dictionary means; A translation processing means for translating an original text using the information stored in the translation dictionary means to obtain a translated text; an indicating means for selectively indicating a translated word; a converting means for converting the translated word indicated by the indicating means into its original form; and a translated word that uses the original word as a headword to obtain a translated word converted to its original form by this converting means. A machine translation device comprising: search and display means for searching and displaying candidates from the translation dictionary means. 2. a translation dictionary means; a translation processing means for translating an original text to obtain a translated text using the information stored in the translation dictionary means; an instruction means for instructing; a conversion means for converting the translated word specified by the instruction means into the original form; and a translation word candidate whose entry word is the original word to obtain the translated word converted into the original form by the conversion means, in the translation dictionary. a search and display means for searching and displaying a search from the search and display means; a designating means for selecting and specifying one translation candidate from among the translation candidates searched and displayed by the search and display means; and a transformation generating means that generates a new translated word by transforming the translation word candidate specified by the specifying means so that it becomes an appropriate linguistic expression in the translated text according to the analysis result of the analyzing means. A machine translation device comprising: a replacement means for replacing the arbitrary translated word in the translated sentence with a translated word generated by the transformation generating means.