| "Automatic translation" or "machine translation" | | | | Original French: |
| systems have been available for a number of | | | | "Il est rappelé au(x) destinataire(s), |
| years. The fundamental assumption is that a | | | | conformément aux articles 56 et 853 du |
| computer can translate as well as a human | | | | Code de Procédure Civile : |
| translator. | | | | Que les parties se défendent |
| We have recently examined two machine | | | | elles-mêmes ou qu'elles ont la faculté |
| translation systems found on the internet. We | | | | de se faire assister ou représenter par |
| tested their ability to translate two short texts: | | | | toutes personnes de leur choix ; que leur |
| one financial, the other legal. | | | | représentant, s'il n'est pas Avocat, doit |
| First, here is the pilot French financial text we | | | | justifier d'un pouvoir spécial. |
| presented for translation: | | | | Que faute de comparaître ou de se faire |
| "Le résultat net progresse de 38 % mais le | | | | représenter, elles s'exposent à ce qu'un |
| BPA de 23 % seulement du fait d'exceptionnels | | | | jugement soit rendu contre elles sur les seuls |
| élevés. Le résultat net devrait | | | | éléments fournis par leur(s) |
| dépasser € 241 million en 2004, et le | | | | adversaire(s)." |
| BPA € 21." | | | | This is a standard notice taken from a Summons |
| And here is the right translation: | | | | to appear in court ("Assignation"), apprizing the |
| "Net earnings went up 38% but EPS only rose by | | | | recipient that legal proceedings have begun against |
| 23% due to high exceptionals. We expect net | | | | him/her/it. |
| earnings to exceed € 241 million in 2004, | | | | Here is the correct translation: |
| and EPS € 21." | | | | "The recipient(s) is (are) reminded that, in |
| Some definitions, for non-financial readers: | | | | accordance with sections 56 and 853 of the |
| Résultat net (net earnings): income after | | | | French Code of Civil Procedure (Code de |
| taxation recorded by a company at the end of | | | | Procédure Civile): |
| the financial year. | | | | Parties are responsible for their own defence, |
| BPA - "benefice par actions" (EPS - earnings per | | | | although they may be assisted or represented by |
| share): net earnings divided by the number of | | | | any person of their choice. If the person |
| outstanding shares of common stock. | | | | representing them is not a French lawyer |
| Exceptionnels (exceptionals): income earned or | | | | (avocat), he/she must produce a special power of |
| expenditure spent on transactions that are not | | | | attorney. |
| part of a company's usual business operations. For | | | | If they fail to appear or be represented, a |
| example, if a company sells a subsidiary for | | | | judgment may be entered against them solely on |
| € 1.2 million, it will record an exceptional | | | | the basis of arguments and evidence presented |
| profit or income of € 1.2 million at the end | | | | by the other party(ies)." |
| of the year. | | | | First machine translation: |
| First machine translation: | | | | "It is pointed out au(x) recipient, in accordance |
| "The net income increases by 38 % but the BPA | | | | with articles 56 and 853 of the Code of Civil |
| of 23 % only because of exceptional high. Should | | | | procedure: |
| the net income exceed? 241 million in 2004, and | | | | That the parts defend themselves or qu?elles |
| the BPA? 21" | | | | have the ability to be made assist or represent |
| Second machine translation: | | | | by all people of their choice; that their |
| "The net result progresses of 48% but the BPA | | | | representative, s?il n?est Lawyer, must justify |
| of 27% only owing to exceptional students. The | | | | d?un special capacity. |
| net result should surpass € 243 million in | | | | That fault of appearing or of being made |
| 2003, and the BPA € 23." | | | | represent, they s?exposent with this qu?un |
| Comments: | | | | judgement is returned against them on the only |
| * Both systems failed to recognize and translate | | | | elements provided by leur(s) adversary." |
| the abbreviation "BPA" (bénéfice par | | | | Second machine translation: |
| action = EPS). | | | | "It is recalled to the (x) |
| * Both also translated "exceptionnels" as an | | | | What the parties defend themselves themselves |
| adjective rather than a noun - with the second | | | | or qu'elles have the faculty to do to attend itself |
| system then introducing a totally irrelevant noun | | | | or represent by all persons of their choice; that |
| ("students"), making the entire sentence | | | | representing for them, s'il n'est Lawyer, must |
| nonsensical. | | | | justify d'un to be able special. |
| * Both translations also contain grammatical errors | | | | What for lack of appear or to do to represent |
| (of/by). | | | | itself, they s'exposent to this qu'un judgement is |
| We then decided to see whether the systems | | | | returned against them on the alone elements |
| contended better with a short legal text. In fact, | | | | furnish by them (leur(s))." |
| as you will see, the answers were even worse, | | | | What a mumbo-jumbo! |
| with the machines producing completely | | | | Machine translation is not even remotely close to |
| meaningless sentences in a concoction of French | | | | supplanting the human mind. |
| and English. | | | | |