Aji P. Wibawa, Andrew Nafalski, Zorica Nedic
This article presents the potential application of a statistical machine translation system to support Indonesian language teaching at school. Advanced Javanese-to-Indonesian Statistical Machine Translation (AJI-SMT) is used as a case study. This statistical machine translation provides 20 types of Javanese-Indonesian language and speech levels translations. As a result, the use of AJI-SMT in a communicative approach is possible. In a class activity, students may use AJI-SMT to translate the dialogue in a role-play scenario. A proper translation will maintain the socio- linguistic aspects of the Javanese speech levels that are related to the use of various politeness levels based on the characteristics of the interlocutors, depending on their social status and the seniority levels. The translation is not an easy task as each of the Javanese language politeness level constitutes a separate language bound only by the grammatical structure but in most cases not a common vocabulary. AJI-SMT has the potential to contribute to saving the cultural heritage of the Javanese languages. © 2013 WIETE.
State University of Malang, Malang, Indonesia; University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
