| "Automatic translation" or "machine | | | | and English. |
| translation" systems have been available for | | | | |
| a number of years. The underlying assumption | | | | Original French: |
| is that a computer can translate as well as a | | | | |
| human translator. | | | | "Il est rappelé au(x) destinataire(s), |
| | | | conformément aux articles 56 et 853 du |
| We have recently tried out two machine | | | | Code de Procédure Civile : |
| translation systems available on the | | | | |
| internet. We tested their ability to | | | | Que les parties se défendent |
| translate two short texts: one financial, the | | | | elles-mêmes ou qu'elles ont la |
| other legal. | | | | faculté de se faire assister ou |
| | | | représenter par toutes personnes de |
| First, here is the original French financial | | | | leur choix ; que leur représentant, |
| text we submitted for translation: | | | | s'il n'est pas Avocat, doit justifier d'un |
| | | | pouvoir spécial. |
| "Le résultat net progresse de 48 % | | | | |
| mais le BPA de 27 % seulement du fait | | | | Que faute de comparaÃ(R)tre ou de se faire |
| d'exceptionnels élevés. Le | | | | représenter, elles s'exposent à ce |
| résultat net devrait dépasser | | | | qu'un jugement soit rendu contre elles sur |
| € 243 million en 2003, et le BPA | | | | les seuls éléments fournis par |
| € 23." | | | | leur(s) adversaire(s)." |
| | | | |
| And here is the correct translation: | | | | This is a standard note taken from a Summons |
| | | | to appear in court ("Assignation"), notifying |
| "Net earnings went up 48% but EPS only rose | | | | the recipient that legal proceedings have |
| by 27% due to high exceptionals. We expect | | | | been started against him/her/it. |
| net earnings to exceed € 243 | | | | |
| million in 2003, and EPS € 23." | | | | Here is the correct translation: |
| | | | |
| Some definitions, for non-financial readers: | | | | "The recipient(s) is (are) reminded that, in |
| | | | accordance with sections 56 and 853 of the |
| Résultat net (net earnings): income | | | | French Code of Civil Procedure (Code de |
| after taxation recorded by a company at the | | | | Procédure Civile): |
| end of the financial year. | | | | |
| | | | Parties are responsible for their own |
| BPA - "benefice par actions" (EPS - earnings | | | | defence, although they may be assisted or |
| per share): net earnings divided by the | | | | represented by any person of their choice. If |
| number of outstanding shares of common stock. | | | | the person representing them is not a French |
| | | | lawyer (avocat), he/she must produce a |
| Exceptionnels (exceptionals): income earned | | | | special power of attorney. |
| or expenditure spent on transactions that are | | | | |
| not part of a company's usual business | | | | If they fail to appear or be represented, a |
| operations. For example, if a company sells a | | | | judgment may be entered against them solely |
| subsidiary for € 1 million, it | | | | on the basis of arguments and evidence |
| will record an exceptional profit or income | | | | presented by the other party(ies)." |
| of € 1 million at the end of the | | | | |
| year. | | | | First machine translation: |
| | | | |
| First machine translation: | | | | "It is pointed out au(x) recipient, in |
| | | | accordance with articles 56 and 853 of the |
| "The net income increases by 48 % but the BPA | | | | Code of Civil procedure: |
| of 27 % only because of exceptional high. | | | | |
| Should the net income exceed? 243 million in | | | | That the parts defend themselves or qu?elles |
| 2003, and the BPA? 23" | | | | have the ability to be made assist or |
| | | | represent by all people of their choice; that |
| Second machine translation: | | | | their representative, s?il n?est Lawyer, must |
| | | | justify d?un special capacity. |
| "The net result progresses of 48% but the BPA | | | | |
| of 27% only owing to exceptional students. | | | | That fault of appearing or of being made |
| The net result should surpass € | | | | represent, they s?exposent with this qu?un |
| 243 million in 2003, and the BPA | | | | judgement is returned against them on the |
| € 23." | | | | only elements provided by leur(s) adversary." |
| | | | |
| Comments: | | | | Second machine translation: |
| | | | |
| * Both systems failed to recognize and | | | | "It is recalled to the (x) |
| translate the abbreviation "BPA" | | | | |
| (bénéfice par action = EPS). | | | | What the parties defend themselves themselves |
| | | | or qu'elles have the faculty to do to attend |
| * Both also translated "exceptionnels" as an | | | | itself or represent by all persons of their |
| adjective rather than a noun - with the | | | | choice; that representing for them, s'il |
| second system then introducing a totally | | | | n'est Lawyer, must justify d'un to be able |
| irrelevant noun ("students"), making the | | | | special. |
| entire sentence nonsensical. | | | | |
| | | | What for lack of appear or to do to represent |
| * Both translations also contain grammatical | | | | itself, they s'exposent to this qu'un |
| errors (of/by). | | | | judgement is returned against them on the |
| | | | alone elements furnish by them (leur(s))." |
| We then decided to see whether the systems | | | | |
| coped better with a short legal text. In | | | | What a mumbo-jumbo! |
| fact, as you will see, the results were even | | | | |
| worse, with the machines producing completely | | | | Machine translation is not even remotely |
| meaningless sentences in a mixture of French | | | | close to replacing the human mind. |