Cette table part demain - la faute du traducteur ou l'intention de l'auteur? : a propos de la metonymie dans la traduction automatique

Abstract

The paper constitutes the analysis of the question of metonymy in automated translation. An average language user is not familiar with the notion, which does not preclude them from using metonymic structures on a daily basis. By being natural mental shortcuts they guarantee faster communication and, hence, contribute to economy in language. Similarly, an automated translator “does not know” that an expression which it is to translate is called metonymy. But this particular knowledge would not be useful in the process since the computer’s task is to translate the given expression correctly in the target language, not to define or classify it. Therefore, the following paper does not touch upon the question of definition, categorization or criteria of distinguishing metonymy among other structures. Instead, by analyzing examples translated into French the author presents the solution for translating metonymic structures in automated translation, which is based on the Object Oriented Approach formulated by Wiesław Banyś.