Translation quality quantifying apparatus and method

Abstract

A system for automating the quality evaluation of a translation. The system may include a computer having a processor and memory device operably connected to one another. A source text in a first language may be stored within the memory device. A target text comprising a translation of the source text into a second language may also be stored within the memory device. Additionally, a plurality of executables may be stored on the memory device and be configured to, when executed by the processor, independently identify a test sample comprising one or more blocks, each comprising a matched set having a source portion selected from the source text and a corresponding target portion selected from the target text.

1 . A system comprising:
 a computer comprising a processor and memory device operably connected to one another;   a source text stored within the memory device and corresponding to a first language;   a target text stored within the memory device and comprising a translation of the source text in a second language, distinct from the first language; and   a plurality of executables stored on the memory device and configured to, when executed by the processor, independently identify a test sample comprising one or more blocks, each block comprising a matched set having a source portion selected from the source text and a corresponding target portion selected from the target text.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the number of words contained within one of the source portion and target portion of at least one of the one or more blocks is determined by the plurality of executables. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the location of one of the source portion and target portion within the source text of at least one of the one or more blocks is determined by the plurality of executables. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the location is dictated by an explicit formula contained within the plurality of executables. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the location is dictated at random by the plurality of executables. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the memory device further stores a plurality of dictionary entries matching words in the first language to words in the second language; and   the location is selected by the plurality of executables according to changes in the concentration of words contained within one of the source text and target text and also contained within the plurality of dictionary entries.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the memory device comprises one or more electronic storage units. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the one or more electronic storage units is positioned remotely from the processor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more electronic storage units is connected to the processor via the Internet. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory device comprises one or more electronic storage units. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a first computer comprising a first processor and first memory device operably connected to one another;   a second computer comprising a second processor and second memory device operably connected to one another;   a first plurality of executables stored on the first memory device and configured to assist a human translator in translating a source text corresponding to a first language into a target text corresponding to a second language, distinct from the first language; and   a second plurality of executables stored on the second memory device and configured to independently identify a test sample comprising one or more blocks, each comprising a matched set having a source portion selected from the source text and a corresponding target portion selected from the target text.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the number of words contained within the source portion of at least one of the one or more blocks is dictated by the second plurality of executables. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the location of the source portion within the source text of at least one of the one or more blocks is dictated by one of an explicit formula contained within the second plurality of executables and a random selection by the second plurality of executables. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an electronic storage device receiving the source text and target text from the first computer. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the second computer receives the source text and the target text from the electrical storage device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the electrical storage device, first computer, and second computer are interconnected via a network. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 selecting a computer comprising a processor and memory device operably connected to one another, the memory device comprising selected executables;   storing within the memory device a pairing comprising a source text corresponding to a first language and a target text comprising a translation of the source text into a second language, distinct from the first language; and   executing the selected executables on the processor to independently identify a test sample from one of the source text and the target text, the test sample comprising one or more blocks, each comprising a matched set having a source portion selected from the source text and a corresponding target portion selected from the target text.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising conducting a human evaluation of the quality of translation evidenced in the test sample. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the human evaluation comprises scoring the test sample in at least one of spelling, grammar, format, style, punctuation, and maintenance of intended meaning.