Do you have a Translation and a Back Translation in Paratext?

Question

Hello All,
I hope that this is an appropriate venue for this question. I’m part of a small team investigating whether machine learning can be useful to any part of the Bible Translation process.

To proceed with part of our investigation we need examples of Translations where a Back Translation is available in Paratext. If you know of a project where both the ‘forward’ and back translation is available in Paratext would you let me know?

Very many thanks.
dcb .

Answer 1

Yes. We have both in Paratext. But I doubt that machine learning will be very useful. As we are happy to have the backtranslation done by a mother tongue speaker. It reveals more insights about what is understood from the wider context. Saving meanings of terms alone is not enough.

Answer 2

Perhaps you could clarify a bit. Are you looking for any Bible translation text which also has an English back translation available?

Comments

Hi Stephen+Katt, Yes that’s what we’re looking for. We are also interested in back translations in other languages, but I imagine there will be many more available in English.

Answer 3

Did you find a translation with back translation to work with?

Comments

We have found a small number that could be suitable and would like to find more.

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Hi dcb,

AllTheWord.org has been working with an easy English version as front translation, in order to develop the semantic representation for the computer to understand it. I don’t think they have the whole bible yet. If you think that can be helpful, you can contact them. [Email Removed].

I think it is good to exchange notes or at least notice what others are doing for machine learning or AI for bible, in order to be better steward of resources and collaboration for our common Kingdom ends.

Blessings,
anon221954

Answer 4

Hi anon221954 , Thank you for that pointer. I’ll get in touch with AllTheWord. It’s very good to collaborate with others, and there are a few organisations looking into machine learning. The first step is to discover who is working in that area.

Many Thanks,
dcb.

Answer 5

Thanks for letting me know. I’ll drop you an email.
dcb.