International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: Swiss Avalanche Bulletin: Automated Translation With a Catalogue of Phrases

• • Title: Swiss Avalanche Bulletin: Automated Translation With a Catalogue of Phrases

    Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Grenoble – Chamonix Mont-Blanc - October 07-11, 2013

    Authors:

    • Kurt Winkler  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
    • Martin Bächtold  [ Tele.Translator.Network, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland ]
    • Stefano Gallorini  [ Tele.Translator.Network, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland ]
    • Ueli Niederer  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
    • Thomas Stucki  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
    • Christine Pielmeier  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
    • Gian Darms  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
    • Lukas Dürr  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
    • Frank Techel  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
    • Benjamin Zweifel  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]

    Date: 2013-10-07

    Abstract: In order to produce the new Swiss avalanche bulletin twice a day in four languages, a fully automated translation system was needed due to the lack of time available for manual translation. The newly developed system is based on a catalogue of predefined phrases with numerous predetermined combination options. To create an avalanche bulletin in the new system, the forecasters do not write the danger description from scratch but assemble it from a set of predefined phrases in German. Each of these phrases also exists in the database in French, Italian and English. Hence, the translations are available immediately and do not need to be proof-read or corrected. After the first operational winter season, users confirmed that the danger descriptions were correct and clear. Forecasters confirmed that it was possible to describe every situation with sufficient accuracy and within the short time span available. The cost-benefit ratio of the catalogue-based system is excellent. The savings from manual translations will exceed the initial cost of developing the phrase catalogue within a few years. A catalogue-based translation system remains limited to a very small sublanguage but is well-suited to avalanche forecasting. The database could conceivably be adapted to other multi-lingual countries or extended to other topics such as weather forecasting.

    Language of Article: English

    Presenters: Unknown

    Keywords: avalanche warning, automated translation, catalogue of phrases, communication

    Page Number(s): 437-441

    Subjects: avalanche warning avalanche bulletin avalanche forecasting

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