[A12n-forum] Translation software & African languages

["Don Osborn" <dzo@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In the interests of getting feedback on two small translator projects of Prof. Martha O'Kennon (Albion College, US) and promoting consideration of the potentials of computer(-assisted) translation for African languages generally, I've added a very simple page to the Bisharat site: http://www.bisharat.net/Trans .  The page has links to her online translation programs for Xhosa (not new, but being revised) and Pulaar (and Fulfulde [Mali]) - each to & from English (except the Fulfulde version of the Pulaar translator).  These are works in progress.

 

We'd be very interested to know of other current translator projects for or including African languages.  There used to be something that "Pink Software" supposedly had for Afrikaans, Zulu, Tswana and Swahili, but I never tried it (perhaps it was more of a dictionary?).  Also there is one project for Twi in early stages.

 

It would be nice to also include something on the "computer assisted dialect adjustment" program(s?) that SIL has used for some languages.

 

Thanks in advance...

 

Don Osborn         dzo@xxxxxxxxxxxx
*Bisharat! A language, technology & development initiative
*Bisharat! Initiative langues - technologie - développement
http://www.bisharat.net