MetaText: developing a translation tool

Abstract

The article outlines the context of CALL development at the University of Ulster, and explains the basic concept of the Meta-Text program as an interactive notebook/workstation which is used for the teaching and learning of translation skills, but which may be linked to other exercises.

It gives an account of its various prototypes as it has developed over the last five years. Extensive details of the formal evaluation of prototype 3 (version 2.1) are included. A description of the functionality of the most recent version (3.0) is given and the planned future enhancements of the program are outlined.

On the basis of this incremental development, a set of software design principles are adduced, with particular emphasis being placed on the interaction of developers and users in that process. An assessment of the program is given, based on its formal and informal evaluation thus far. It is felt that the program gives instruction in key intellectual skills and, through its interactive and creative functionality, encourages the kind of judgement essential for specialist linguists. Its encouragement of the consultation of data and its capacity to accumulate linguistic material are also felt to be significant, as is its flexibility of use with different types of student. Although basically a selfstudy tool, it has considerable potential for various forms of tutorial use.

It is anticipated that further development and evaluation will bring to light other valuable uses for the program.