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Translation Sciences Institute

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1976 - 1980

Administrative History

The Translation Sciences Institute (1976-1980) at Brigham Young University functioned to provide machine translation of texts with a minimum of human assistance.

In 1974 then-President of Brigham Young University, Dallin H. Oaks, and Dr. Eldon Lytle presented the idea of a Translation Sciences Institute to the Board of Trustees in an effort to gain funding. The Translation Department of the Church agreed to provide forty percent of the funding, and the project began in 1976. In 1977, President Wilkinson donated the money for a computer dedicated to computer translation work. Originally, the computer was designed to translate accurately and efficiently between English and five other languages: Spanish, French, German, Portugese, and Chinese. The purposes were largely extended to translations of scriptural materials and other church-related texts. Dr. Lytle (1976-1979) and Dr. Gary Carlson (1980) served as directors of the project until funding was withdrawn in 1980.

Citation:
Department of Linguistics and English Language records, 1957-2004 (Translation Sciences Institute)

Brigham Young University, L. Tom Perry Special Collections worksheet, Apr. 21, 2009 (Translation Sciences Institute; est. 1970 at Brigham Young University; developed Interactive Translation System software; closed in 1979)

Machine translation, 1986: p. 17.10 (Translation Sciences Institute; members of institute founded Automated Language Processing System (ALPS) in 1980)

BYU organization history website, via WWW, Nov. 2, 2011 (researched computer-assisted language translation; reported to Dept. of Linguistics)

Translation Sciences Institute records, 1973-1992 (existed 1976-1980; machine translation; human assistance minimum; Oaks and Lytle presented idea to Board of Trustees; Translation Dept. 40 percent funding; 1976 began; Wilkinson donated money for computer; English and five languages: French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Chinese; scriptural materials; directors Lytle 1976-1979 and Carlson 1980; funding withdrawn 1980)

Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:

Department of Linguistics and English Language administrative and academic records, 1983-2008

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1222 Series 6
Scope and Contents

Contains syllabi, department meeting minutes, graduate catalogue, accreditation reports, and records concerning department awards banquets, retreats, visiting scholars, academic reviews, class changes with the English/Linguistics merger, and department self-studies. Dates range from 1983 to 2008.

Dates: 1983-2008

Department of Linguistics and English Language history records, 1957-2002

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1222 Series 1
Scope and Contents note

Contains correspondence, notes, articles, and newspaper clippings pertaining to the history of the department, 1957-2002.

Dates: 1957-2002

Department of Linguistics and English Language records

 Collection
Identifier: UA 1222
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, notes, reports, meeting minutes, clippings, syllabi, and articles from the Department of Linguistics and English Language from 1957 to 2008. The materials pertain to the history of the department, concordance of Mormon scriptures, department retreats, awards banquets, visiting scholars, and students.

Dates: 1957-2008

Translation Sciences Institute records

 Collection — Carton 1
Identifier: UA 5345
Scope and Contents

Contains manuals, materials produced by the Translation Sciences Institute, and one audiocassette. Materials date from between 1977 and 1979.

Dates: 1977-1979

Translation Sciences Institute records

 Collection
Identifier: UA 5592
Scope and Contents

Collection contains records from the Translation Sciences Institute at Brigham Young University, including information regarding the Junction Grammar Theory, general records of annual reports, minutes, and correspondence, as well as microfiche used by the institute in computing translations. Also includes materials related to the institute gathered by Charles D. Bush. Materials date from between 1973 and 1992.

Dates: 1973-1992

Translation Sciences Institute records on Junction Grammar, 1973-1978

 Series — Box 1: Series 1; Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233264420], Folder: 1-9
Identifier: UA 5592 Series 1
Scope and Contents Contains information related to Junction Grammar, a system of language description developed by Dr. Eldon G. Lytle at Brigham Young University. The system attempts to illustrate language graphically and visually and was used by the Translation Sciences Institute. Included are records from a 1973 language symposium describing the theory, practical application records, volumes of the periodical "Junction Theory and Application" from 1978, a preliminary edition of the Fundamentals of Junction...
Dates: 1973-1978