Théorie de l’information, information et linguistes français dans les années 1960. Un exemple de transfert entre mathématiques et sciences du langage

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La constitution du TAL: Étude historique des dénominations et des concepts

Several terms have been in competition as names for the theoretical and applieddiscipline that lies in the intersection of linguistics, mathematics, computer sciences andcognitive sciences and which developed out of early experiments in Machine Translation.They include Computational Linguistics and Natural Language Processing in English, andTraitement automatique des langues, Informatique linguistique and Linguistique informatiquein French. This paper traces the history of these terms and considers whether theterminological variation may be a symptom of the conflicts at work in the field, concerningthe institutional, economical, theoretical and conceptual issues.Pour désigner le champ d'investigations et d'applications à l'intersection de lalinguistique, des mathématiques, de l'informatique et des sciences cognitives hérité desexpériences pionnières en traduction automatique, plusieurs termes sont ou ont été enconcurrence, Computational Linguistics ou Natural Language Processing dans le domaineanglo-américain, Traitement automatique des langues, Informatique linguistique ouLinguistique informatique en France. Cet article se propose, en retraçant le parcourshistorique de ces dénominations, de montrer que le flottement sur les termes estsymptomatique des tensions à l'oeuvre dans le domaine, sur le plan des enjeux institutionnels,économiques, théoriques et conceptuels

Jean Dubois, un passeur ?

Dans le contexte intellectuel français du début des années 1960, où la linguistique américaine, en particulier sa mathématisation, est encore largement méconnue, Jean Dubois a largement contribué à l’introduction en France de l’analyse distributionnelle et de l’analyse de discours harrissiennes, de la théorie de l’information, enfin de la grammaire générative. Dans cet article, nous retracerons les premiers travaux de Jean Dubois des années 1960-70 ayant contribué à cette diffusion, en tentant d’évaluer son rôle en tant que passeur ou bien plus simplement de facilitateur. Dans cette perspective, nous examinerons sa thèse sur le lexique où l’analyse distributionnelle est appliquée pour la première fois en France, ses travaux inspirés des travaux de la conception de Roman Jakobson de la théorie de l’information, enfin ses travaux sur l’analyse de discours largement inspirés par ceux de Zellig S. Harris ; travaux alimentés et complétés par son important travail d’édition des traductions des travaux américains. Afin d’évaluer son rôle de passeur, nous étudierons la façon dont ses disciples immédiats ont repris ou poursuivi ses travaux dans le domaine de l’analyse de discours.In the French intellectual context of the early 1960s, where American linguistics, in particular its mathematization, is still largely unknown, Jean Dubois largely contributed to the introduction in France of Harris’s distributional analysis and discourse analysis, of information theory and generative grammar. In this article, we will examine how Jean Dubois’s early works in the 1960-70s contributed to this dissemination, and try to assess his role in the introduction of American linguistic theories in France. In this perspective, we will examine his PhD dissertation on the lexicon where distributional analysis was applied for the first time in France, his work inspired by Roman Jakobson's conception of information theory, finally his work on discourse analysis largely inspired by Zellig S. Harris; those works were supplemented by his intense activity of publishing translations of American works. In order to assess his role in the introduction of American linguistic theories in France, we will study the way in which his immediate disciples resumed or continued his work in the area of ​​discourse analysis

Le CNRS et les débuts de la traduction automatique en France

C'est en 1959-1960 que se concrétise l'intérêt des Français pour la traduction automatique. Le CNRS y participe pleinement en créant en décembre 1959 le CETA (Centre d'études pour la traduction automatique) au sein de l'Institut Blaise-Pascal, avec deux sections, l'une à Paris, le CETAP, dirigé par Aimé Sestier, l'autre à Grenoble, le CETAG, dirigé par Bernard Vauquois. La création du CETA est précédée par celle de l'ATALA (l'Association pour l'étude et le développement de la traduction autom..

Linguistique appliquée et traitement automatique des langues

Cet article examine les relations entre la linguistique appliquée et le traitement automatique des langues au début de leur institutionnalisation dans les années 1960. Dans une étude comparative, on essaiera de rendre compte des différences entre traditions. En particulier on essaiera d’expliquer pourquoi des liens forts ont existé en France, notamment au sein de l’association Atala, ainsi qu’au niveau international au sein de l’Aila, alors que dans les autres pays pionniers, comme la Grande-Bretagne et les États-Unis, la LA s’est davantage orientée vers d’autres centres d’intérêt comme l’instrumentation de l’enseignement des langues et l’analyse statistique des textes. Enfin, on montrera comment une réflexion approfondie en Urss sur les applications de la linguistique a nourri l’interaction entre LA et TAL.This article examines the relationship between applied linguistics and natural language processing at the beginning of their institutionalization in the 1960s. In a comparative study, we attempt to account for differences between traditions. In particular we will try to explain why strong links existed in France, particularly in the Atala association, as well as internationally in the Aila, while, in other pioneering countries such as Britain and the United States, applied linguistics turned towards other areas of interest such as instrumentation language teaching and the statistical analysis of texts. Finally, we show how in-depth reflection on linguistic applications in the Ussr fed the interaction between LA and TAL

La traduction automatique, une impossible science du langage appliquée

O artigo aborda características e tendências das diferentes fases pelas quais passou a tradução automática, assim como as tendências do momento atualCet article aborde les divers périodes de la traduction automatique qui amènent à la période contemporaine

Des questions-échos aux réponses-échos

Nous nous proposons de montrer, dans un perspective conversationnelle, qu’il existe un type de répétition du discours de l’autre, la réponse-écho, associé de façon stable et routinière à une configuration prosodique particulière, qui présente l’intérêt de permettre aux participants de « faire écho » à un segment du tour de parole précédent sans pour autant signaler un problème et initier une réparation sous forme de question. De plus, dans certaines situations interactionnelles, comme la relation de service, la réponse-écho constitue la réponse préférée (ou non marquée) et s’oppose (tout en formant une paire) avec la question-écho, qui constitue la réponse préférée (ou marquée).In this paper, we aim to show that there is a kind of hetero-repetition, named echo-answer, which is regularly and steadily associated with a specific prosodic pattern and which occurs in a specific sequential place. Echo-answers allow the participants to echo a part of the preceding turn without signalling a problem or initiating a reparation. Moreover, in some interactional situations, such as service encounters, echo-answers appear to form a constrastive set with echo-questions ; the former being the preferred (unmarked) form and the latter the unpreferred (marked) one

A Framework for the Development, Design and Implementation of a Sustained Arctic Ocean Observing System

Rapid Arctic warming drives profound change in the marine environment that have significant socio-economic impacts within the Arctic and beyond, including climate and weather hazards, food security, transportation, infrastructure planning and resource extraction. These concerns drive efforts to understand and predict Arctic environmental change and motivate development of an Arctic Region Component of the Global Ocean Observing System (ARCGOOS) capable of collecting the broad, sustained observations needed to support these endeavors. This paper provides a roadmap for establishing the ARCGOOS. ARCGOOS development must be underpinned by a broadly-endorsed framework grounded in high-level policy drivers and the scientific and operational objectives that stem from them. This should be guided by a transparent, internationally accepted governance structure with recognized authority and organizational relationships with the national agencies that ultimately execute network plans. A governance model for ARCGOOS must guide selection of objectives, assess performance and fitness-to-purpose, and advocate for resources. A requirements-based framework for an ARCGOOS begins with the Societal Benefit Areas (SBAs) that underpin the system. SBAs motivate investments and define the system's science and operational objectives. Objectives can then be used to identify key observables and their scope. The domains of planning/policy, strategy, and tactics define scope ranging from decades and basins to focused observing with near real time data delivery. Patterns emerge when this analysis is integrated across an appropriate set of SBAs and science/operational objectives, identifying impactful variables and the scope of the measurements. When weighted for technological readiness and logistical feasibility, this can be used to select Essential ARCGOOS Variables, analogous to Essential Ocean Variables of the Global Ocean Observing System. The Arctic presents distinct needs and challenges, demanding novel observing strategies. Cost, traceability and ability to integrate region-specific knowledge have to be balanced, in an approach that builds on existing and new observing infrastructure. ARCGOOS should benefit from established data infrastructures following the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reuseable Principles to ensure preservation and sharing of data and derived products. Linking to the Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) process and involving Arctic stakeholders, for example through liaison with the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), can help ensure success

Com o diabo no corpo: os terríveis papagaios do Brasil colônia

Desde a Antiguidade, papagaios, periquitos e afins (Psittacidae) fascinaram os europeus por seu vivo colorido e uma notável capacidade de interação com seres humanos. A descoberta do Novo Mundo nada faria além de acrescentar novos elementos ao tráfico de animais exóticos há muito estabelecido pelos europeus com a África e o Oriente. Sem possuir grandes mamíferos, a América tropical participaria desse comércio com o que tinha de mais atrativo, essencialmente felinos, primatas e aves - em particular os papagaios, os quais eram embarcados em bom número. Contudo, a julgar pelos documentos do Brasil colônia, esses voláteis podiam inspirar muito pouca simpatia, pois nenhum outro animal - exceto as formigas - foi tantas vezes mencionado como praga para a agricultura. Além disso, alguns psitácidas mostravam-se tão loquazes que inspiravam a séria desconfiança de serem animais demoníacos ou possessos, pois só três classes de entidades - anjos, homens e demônios - possuíam o dom da palavra. Nos dias de hoje, vários representantes dos Psittacidae ainda constituem uma ameaça para a agricultura, enquanto os indivíduos muito faladores continuam despertando a suspeita de estarem possuídos pelo demônio. Transcendendo a mera curiosidade, essa crença exemplifica o quão intrincadas podem ser as relações do homem com o chamado “mundo natural”, revelando um universo mais amplo e multifacetado do que se poderia supor a princípio. Nesse sentido, a existência de aves capazes de falar torna essa relação ainda mais complexa e evidencia que as dificuldades de estabelecer o limite entre o animal e o humano se estendem além dos primatas e envolvem as mais inusitadas espécies zoológicas.Since ancient times, parrots and their allies (Psittacidae) have fascinated Europeans by their striking colors and notable ability to interact with human beings. The discovery of the New World added new species to the international exotic animal trade, which for many centuries had brought beasts to Europe from Africa and the Orient. Lacking large mammals, tropical America participated in this trade with its most appealing species, essentially felines, primates and birds - especially parrots - which were shipped in large numbers. It should be noted, however, that at times these birds were not well liked. In fact, according to documents from colonial Brazil, only the ants rank higher than parrots as the animals most often mentioned as agricultural pests. On the other hand, some of these birds were so chatty that people suspected them to be demonic or possessed animals, since only three classes of beings - angels, men and demons - have the ability to speak. Nowadays, several Psittacidae still constitute a threat to agriculture, and the suspicion that extremely talkative birds were demon possessed has also survived. More than a joke or a mere curiosity, this belief exemplifies how intricate man’s relationships with the “natural world” may be. In this sense, the existence of birds that are able to speak adds a further twist to these relationships, demonstrating that the problem of establishing a boundary between the animal and the human does not only involve primates, but also includes some unusual zoological species