In this RSA Animate, linguist Steven Pinker demonstrates how the mind turns the finite building blocks of language into infinite meanings. Along the way, he makes it clear why a good appreciation of cultural conventions is an essential ingredient for effective translation and why fully automated methods will never achieve 100% success in areas like the translation of dialogue whether for film scripts or business presentations to name just two.
To hear and see Pinker's full-length presentation on this and related issues, but without the wonderful animation, go here.
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OSASCOMP = Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Colour, Origin, Material, Purpose QOSASCOMP = Quantity, Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Colour, Origin, ... -
Tommy Butler of Atrinex has posted a corporate bullshit generator . He uses a Dilbert strip as an attention grabber: Tommy writes... -
While beyond my blog's usual scope, this item may prove useful to translators and interpreters working from or into English in any field...
