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1. What is language computing? Language computing is the process of getting all we do with a language be done with a computer. Main tasks of a language are communication, sharing of thoughts. This includes all forms of representations like speaking, writing, and representing language in other ways. When we come to computing it is mainly includes visual representation of a language, that is, all we get a language in computer is mainly by characters only. The term "Language computing" deriving the meaning that using computers to accomplish all language needs. Always the tasks done by a computer are made easier than the traditional way of doing. For example banking made easy and faster by the arrival of computer. In the same way language computing is the process of doing everything that can be done in a language with accomplishing complete grammar, spell checking, and all linguistic facilities. Wholly language computing is the process of achieving every language oriented tasks such as spelling and grammar checking, automatic error correction, with all the possible tools as dictionary and thesaurus.
2. Where it is stands now? As far as languages like English, French are concerned; they have extensive language computing facilities. The reasons for their improvement are hugely available resource they had. Resource mentioned here is availability of modern technologies. They are fed with the every available technology and improvements whenever they occurred. So those languages attained a saturation state in the language computing phenomenon.
On talking about regional languages like Tamil, Hindi and some more Indic languages we are only at the starting point, we are still at an infant state. The language tools available now in the market were doing nothing towards language. The fact is they just solve a problem by implementing some other problem. Wholly speaking tools now available are simply giving solutions for the problems regarding encodings, display problems, etc., these may look important now because we are still to be exposed to the full language computing situations. Till now our computer scientists are producing Keyboard drivers, Font converters, Editors and some more things which are already available in the market. Though they may require some improvements that are not the need of the hour, these can be developed as byproduct they are not actually the target. Our objective must be something more.
Our disability with language computing still there, where it stands for years and this is definitely not a good sign. We must work towards defeating these ambiguities. First we have to frame out our targets in language computing and working towards achieving it.
3. What are the actual needs? The most needed developments in regional languages are :
1. Spell checkers
2. Automatic spelling corrections
3. Grammar checking
4. Complete Dictionaries and cross linking between different languages
5. Simple ways error corrections and suggestions
Spell checking being spoken for more than a decade but the result is still none. We all still require a proof reader to read our web pages. Work towards the process is still zero; the most common reason said is the process very difficult. These all tasks may require more manpower and lots of works, but once achieved it will be a grand success.
4. What are the ways to accomplish these? Spelling and grammar checking is not only the task of a programmer; it is actually an integrated work of programmer and a Linguistic scholar. People from linguistic can provide possible language oriented situations in language computing and people from programming can develop the outcome into programs. Only by following this way we can reach our objectives in language computing. |