franchise-star-trek-tng-technical-manual1

8.6 UNIVERSAL TRANSLATORThe technical ability to exchange data is not in itselfsufficient to permit communication. A common set of symbolsand concepts — a language — is equally important beforecommunications can occur. This is difficult enough on aplanet where individuals of the same species speak differentlanguages, but it becomes a formidable task indeed whendealing with individuals from different planets who may shareneither biology, culture, nor concepts.The Universal Translator is an extremely sophisticatedcomputer program that is designed to first analyze the patternsof an unknown form of communication, then to derive atranslation matrix to permit realtime verbal or data exchanges.Although the Universal Translator is primarily intended towork with spoken communications, it has been used successfullyfor translation with a wide range of language media.DERIVING A TRANSLATION MATRIXThe first step in deriving a translation matrix is to obtainas large a sample as possible of the unknown communication.Wherever possible, this sample should include examples of atleast two native speakers conversing with each other. Extensivepattern analysis yields estimates on symbology, syntax,usage patterns, vocabulary, and cultural factors. Given anadequate sample, it is usually possible to derive a highlysimplified language subset in only a few minutes, althoughFederation policy generally requires a much more extensiveanalysis before diplomatic usage of the Universal Translatoris permitted.In the case where the individual lifeform communicatedwith has a similar language translation technology, it issometimes useful to translate outgoing messages into theLinguacode language form, since this is specifically designedas a culturally neutral "antiencrypted" language medium.LIMITATIONSThe accuracy and applicability of the translation matrix isonly as good as the language sample on which the matrix isbased. A limited sample will generally permit a basic exchangeof concepts, but can lead to highly distorted translationswhen concepts, vocabulary, or usage vary too far fromthe sample. Since the Universal Translator constantly updatesthe translation matrix during the course of usage, it isoften useful to allow the program to accumulate a largerlinguistic sample by exchanging simple subjects before proceedingto the discussion of more complex or sensitivesubjects.Unknownlanguage formContextualreferentsGrammaranalysisTranslation matrixderived fromanalysis of unknownlanguage form•pVocabularysynthesisJUsagedataSyntaxgenerationJLinguisticdatabaseCulturaldatabaseTranslatedlanguage form>8.6.1 Universal Translator