Using and Adapting TransIt-Tiger for Computer-Assisted Translation
Introduction
The aim of this course is to demonstrate how the TransIt-Tiger package works, and how teachers can use their own material in it, as an integral part of teaching which involves translation. At the end of the course, you will be in a position to use the TransIt-Tiger package, and be ready to start implementing your own version of the program.
TransIt TIGER is a program for Computer-Assisted Translation, which runs under Windows on a PC.
It was developed by the TELL consortium under the CTI Centre for Modern Languages, University of Hull. TELL stands for Technology Enhanced Language Learning, and is a major national project to create CALL software for higher education. CTI stands for Computers in Teaching Initiative.
The Program - Computer-Assisted Translation
Source Text The passage for translation
Context Introductory remarks concerning the source text and how to go about translating it.
Glossary Dictionary-like definitions
Hints Comments on selected words or phrases in the text
Versions A & B Example translations of the source text, not necessarily model answers; password-protected.
When the program starts, the screen is divided into two sections. The upper section shows the Source Text, and the lower section shows the Context.
When you click on the Glossary button (at the right of the screen), the Source Text is re-displayed in the top of the screen, this time with items defined in the Glossary coloured in green. To see the Glossary definition of any of the words shown in green, click on it once: the definition is shown in the lower section of the screen. (Such links, from one item to another within or across texts, are called hyperlinks, making this text hypertext; compare this to the principle of footnotes).
Likewise, when you click on the Hints button, the Source Text is re-displayed in the top of the screen, only this time the words and phrases coloured in green are hyperlinks to the Hints provided. To see the Hints of any of the words shown in green, click on it once: the information is shown in the lower section of the screen.
To start work on translating the passage, click once on the button Source Text. The original passage is then displayed unannotated (that is, with no links showing) in the top half of the screen, and the lower half of the screen is blank for you to start typing.
While you are working, you can change freely between the Source Text, the Context, the Glossary and the Hints.
You can save your work onto floppy disk, and retrieve it again for use later. If a printer is available, you can print out your work.
When example translations have been provided, you can look at either or both of these by clicking on the appropriate buttons at the right of the screen, but you need to know the right password before you are allowed to do this. If you know the password, type it in when you are asked, and you will then be shown either of both of the example translations.
Although there are passages already available for use in TransIt-Tiger, these are often technical in nature, and will probably be unsuitable for most MML work. However, the strength of TransIt-Tiger lies in the fact that teachers can specify passages and background information according to the requirements of courses and students.
Source Text
You select the Source Texts you want your students to work at translating.
This might be selected passages from selected authors, newspaper articles drawn directly from Internet sources, past exam papers: you are free to choose whatever you think is useful.
Glossary
You identify the words to be included in the Glossary, and specify the definitions exactly as you wish.
You can specify meanings according to the context of the passage, leaving out alternative meanings (in contrast to a dictionary). Or, if you prefer, you can specify several possible meanings, leaving the student to pick the most appropriate.
Hints
You select the phrases to be included with the Hints, and can write the hints in any way, on any linguistic or literary theme you want.
You can use the hints to point out pitfalls and difficulties, and ask the students to think about solutions. You can provide grammatical or literary explication or historical information. In short, you can help students to make accurate translations, and develop their translation style.
Context
You provide the introductory comments the student reads.
This can include general information about the historical or literary context of the passage, or its source and author, information on how to use the package, or anything else you think relevant.
Versions A & B
If you want to, you can provide translated versions of the passage, to illustrate the art (or otherwise) of translation.
Preparing Source Texts and related information
You use the TransIt-Tiger authoring shell to create new TransIt-Tiger applications, and then work directly on the new application in tutor mode.
If you want, you can prepare all the textual information before using the TransIt-Tiger shell, and import the information to your application later. If you use a word processor, make sure you save your work as a text file.
You can work with any font and character set that the PC can handle under windows, though it's best to stick to the commonly used fonts as far as possible.
Accented characters are straightforward: you can specify in the TransIt-Tiger shell which ones are to be used, and they appear as buttons to be clicked in the student version.
An electronic dictionary, or any other program you think relevant, can be linked to your application, to be called up by the student.
Advantages
- Flexibility: the teacher is in control, and can provide the texts and as much or as little help as required.
- Familiarity and ease of use: the program is relatively easy to use and to develop, and once learned, the focus quickly becomes textual rather than computational.
- Re-use: once a selection of passages has been prepared, they can be re-used over a number of years (as with some lecture notes), and updated whenever required.
- New teaching priorities: translation passages can be set as preparation before, or follow-up after, a class or supervision. As much of the teaching effort is included in the TransIt-Tiger application, face-to-face teaching time can be spent in different ways. li
- Existing material can be adapted: if you already have set passages you like to use in translation classes, you can adapt these to the TransIt-Tiger framework.
- Stimulation and new skills: computer skills learned by students (and staff) are useful during and after their time at University. Working with a computer may increase initial interest in the work being done.
Disadvantages
- Commitment to spending time and effort is required to prepare and implement good TransIt-Tiger applications.
- Time must be invested in learning the required skills.
- The use of computing may bring some conflicts with traditional exam methods.
