Eisteddfod Launch for Welsh Language Communications Infrastructure
As part of their session Innovation for Language Technologies and Digital Media Monday afternoon at the National Eisteddfod, Canolfan Bedwyr’s Language Technologies Unit will launch their new project, Welsh Language Communications Infrastructure.
The project will lay foundations for a range of Welsh language communication technologies, including transcription, voice control, and speech to speech translation. This will stimulate the development of Welsh language software packs and services, and mainstream Welsh in communication in the “internet of things”, question and answer software, and multilingual environments.
It will soon be possible therefore for you to speak Welsh with your television set and other appliances that respond to voice commands, and you will be able to ask questions in Welsh to your smart phone, and also get spoken replies. The project has been sponsored by the Welsh Government through their Welsh Language Technology and Digital Media Fund.
The session at the Eisteddfod will also give people the opportunity to hear about the latest developments in technology and the Welsh language at Bangor University. They include adding the Coleg Cymraeg’s Terminology Dictionary to the popular Ap Geiriaduron (Welsh dictionary phone app). This has illustrations, diagrams and definitions in it, and now contains over 100,000 entries.
Another of the Unit’s innovative products to be showcased is the CyfieithuCymru (TranslateWales) translation system. This is the only system maximized for use with the Welsh language. Cysill, the Welsh spelling and grammar checker, is an integral part of it, as is gist machine translation, and a pre-loaded translation memory. It is becoming increasingly popular with public bodies looking to make the best use of the latest technology.
The session will also be an opportunity to celebrate the success of the 31 professional translators who have studies the part time post-graduate modules in translation at Bangor during the last two years, sponsored by the TILT project. Eighteen of them have obtained the Post-graduate Certificate in Translation Studies and Technology, with the others well on their way to earning it. This qualification was specially designed for translators who already work in the industry, tailored towards the needs of bilingual administration in Wales.
All are welcome to attend at the Bangor University stall at the Eisteddfod, at 4pm Monday afternoon, the 3rd of August for this session and reception afterwards.
Publication date: 31 July 2015