Automating Linguistics

Automating Linguistics explores the history of the mathematization and automation of language sciences, including machine translation, computational linguistics, and natural language processing. It highlights how the sciences of language gradually integrated computing and software, leading to the second-wave mathematization of language study.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 179 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Automating Linguistics delves into the intricate history of the mathematization and automation of language sciences. Following the initial mathematization efforts of the 1930s, two significant waves emerged: machine translation in the 1950s and the emergence of computational linguistics and natural language processing in the 1960s. These waves were particularly influential in the 1990s, coinciding with the proliferation of large computerized corpora and the remarkable technological advancements in computers and software.

The development of early machine translation can be traced back to its origins as a war technology, drawing upon a diverse array of disciplines such as mathematics, physics, logic, neuroscience, acoustics, and emerging sciences like cybernetics and information theory. Initially conceived during the Cold War era, machine translation was designed to facilitate mass translations for strategic purposes. However, linguistics, being a distinct field, played a minor role in the pioneering projects of machine translation.

This book serves as a comparative analysis between these two trends, shedding light on how the sciences of language gradually integrated computing and software technologies, leading to the second-wave mathematization of language study. This mathematization-automation process took on different forms depending on cultural and linguistic traditions, including the United States, the former Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France.

While working with large corpora in the 1990s, facilitated by unprecedented computing and software development, was primarily a continuation of traditional approaches in language sciences. This included the study of spoken and written texts, lexicography, and statistical studies of vocabulary. The availability of large corpora provided a wealth of data for linguistic analysis, enabling researchers to explore language patterns and relationships in greater detail.

In conclusion, Automating Linguistics provides a comprehensive exploration of the evolution of mathematization and automation in language sciences. It highlights the pivotal role played by machine translation and computational linguistics in shaping the field, while also emphasizing the continued significance of traditional approaches and the benefits of large corpora in linguistic research.

Weight: 308g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030706449
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021