.. SrANDARD FORM NO. 84 • REF 

·9 Office MemoralJ!dum • 

ID:A65763 

UNITED STATES • GOy~_RNM:ijNr:f~. ~·· .. ~ I f • - • .. \ .... P .. ... ,.;: ·-=-. .. ·-:.· I ·: .... ~~-~: 

,. .,Z .., • ~ • •!II ."lo ... ~ :.I 

. Dr. F.a.chus, AFSA-J5 D.ATB: 6 MARCH 1951 TO ... • .. ..c. .. ~ 

' ' 

FllOM AFSA-OOT .. .. 

SUBJECT: Study entitled "Proposals for the Mechanical Resolution or German 

Syntax Patterns" . ~- :· .. 

1. LCDR Hazelett indicated to me that you had requested that the paper 

entitled 11 ?.roposals for the Mechanical Resolution of German Syntax Patterns" be 

returned to you for further detailed study. 

2. I am therefore sending you the copy which was forwarded to me by 

Mr. F.dmundson. I shall be happy to review the results of your more detailed 

study, or to discuss with you at your convenience the various aspects arising fran your analysis. 

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~~ pproved for Release 

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ursuantto E.O. 13526 
( • REF ID:A65763 • 

f ; - . ----:(~ -

PROPOULS - - -.ICAL l!EBOLUTIOK OF L ~~ P.lftl!llliB 

\ 

Victor A. Os1118.ld. Jr,. and Stuart L. F~~oher. Jr. 

University ot California. Los ~les • ., 

and National Bureau ot Stand.a.~ \ 

ABSTRACT 

I 

I 

Reaent research :has shovm that a. reinvestigation of word. 

frequency must be undertaken bei'ore the attempt oan be made to 

solve the lezioographioal problo~s ot rneohanioal translation. 

l!ea.nwl1ile those in~erested in meohe.nioal translation have 

encountered the objection that, even ii' lexicographical problems 

could be solved, synbo.otical complications would probably 

constitute an insurmountable ba1•rier to suocess. This present 

study indicates ·that syntactical problems can be solved by 

. using a numerical code to identify synta.otical functions and 

b:f em.ploying i1eobanioal routines to resolve foreign syntax 

patterns into English syuta.x patterns. 

I " , 

, .J:' i. 

' , - . 
e REF ID:A65763 e 

PROPOSAIS FOR THE :MECHANICAL RESOLUTION OF GERMAN snr.r.AX PATTERNS I 

Victor A. Oswald, Jr. and Stuart Lo Fletcher. Jr. 

University of California. Los Angeles, and National Bureau of Standards 

I 

The operations oublined in this report are intended as a aontribution tawards solving the broader problem ot the mechanical tranalation 

of foreign-language texts into Englisho To be sure• the le:d.oograph:loal 

difficulties imrolved in m.eaha.nical translation are formidable• ba:t at 

least their nature is understood and the solution ot them will depend 

largely upon the size and range or the vocabulary that can be made 

autonatically availablel. On the other hand, no attempt has previousq 

been made to provide a rigidly mechanical solution ot syntactical 

problems2 • although it seems obvioas enough that mechanical translation 

will be impossible until some system has been devised that Yill intel'-

pret, in terms of English patterns, the relations to one another ot 

words or groups of words in foreign la.nguage texts. These proposals 

are intended to provide the elements of such a system. 

German was chosen as the language for investigation. chiefly 

beoause any system oapable of resolving the syntactical complexities 

of Ger.man could readily be applied to languages of less syntaotioal 

campl.e.rl.ty. such as French or Spanisho and could readily be extended 

to em.brace languages of greater syn.tactical complexity• such as 

Russian. The practical advantage of our proposals should require 

no exposition, since the :mass of undigested :naterial in toreign 

lo ot. especially E. u. Condon, "Statistics or Vocabulary," Science, 

Volo 67 (1928) pp 300 f •; George K. Zipf, Human Behavior and the 

Principle 2£. Least Effort (Cambridge. Mass.: Addison-Wesley PTeSs • 

l949) J and William E. Bull, "Natural Frequency and Word Counts," 

Classical Journal, Volo 64, Noo 8 (May 1949) PP• 469 rr. 

2o For an interesting quasi-mechanical treatment of ayntaotio problema1 

ct. Co V 11 Pollard. A !!z. !,2 Rapid Translation Et_ German. University 

ot Texas, 1947. 

.. 
REF ID:A65763 

-zlanguages• part;iaularly in Russian. is at present, 

• and will be tor 

•om.e time to come. greater than the available f'aroe of tl"&Ulat.on 

can cope with. We should, however, wish to make it perfectly clear 

that :mechanical tra:mrlation as emrisaged at pre11eut 11 not intended 

to provide an elegant - nor even a •tylistical:Qr satisfactory - _, 

English text;. What a mechanical translation might do is to fU?'D.iah. 

at a speed Tastly greater than would otherwise be poss ibla • an 

intelligible approximation in English of the content ot the original 

toreign.:.language text, and thus to f'a.cilitate the digestion of 

nasses of' priuted materie.111 particularly in diverse acientif'ic tielda, 

II 

Our procedures were purely' pragmatico We began by re-examining 

the processes by which the reader analyzes the syDtaotioal relationship to one another of words and word-blocks. Then, after working 

out a code•f'or the identification of' syntactical relationships, 118 

proceeded to reduce the analytical processes to mechanical routines. 

Some of our routines actually reproduce processes ot grammatical 

ana'.qsis; others substitute processes which use indioia to which 

the reader pays little attention (e.g., capitalization. of' the first 

word of' e. sentence), but which can constitute marks of recognition 

tar a DB.chine. 

We found that the element.a of the language in question and 

their functional relationship to each other could be treated most 

efficiently in terms of descriptive grammar. In tact, we found 

that much of our investigation led to the rediscovery of things 

familiar but partially forgotten, which is indeed f'ortum.te, f'or 

this means that some form ot coding system can be applied without 
... 

... 

REF ID:A65763 

- 3 -

much process of refinement to 8.%J¥ language whose syn:tax has been 

adequately anaJ.¥zed. · 

III 

We should like to introduce a few definitions and e:x:planations. 

The element of discourse with which we are concerned is the 

printed word. Every printed word regarded as a vehicle of canm.unication can potentially perfol"Jll tbs funotion of communication on two 

levels: on the level ot its own specific meaning (lexicograpey) 

·and on the level ot its relation to other words or word-bloaks 

(syxma:x:). Our primary concern has been the syntactical function 

of words and word-blocks. Words that can be syntactically isolated 

are called in the context of' this report syntactic units; word• 

blocks that can be syntactically isolated are called in the context 

ot this report syntactic blocks. 

In actuality, the languages with which we are likely to be 

concerned employ two devices 'bo indioa'be the relation of syntatio 

units and syntactic blocks to one another: inflectional endings 

and sequence (Wt>rd order). English, happily enough, depends almost 

exclusively on word order, so that it proved possible to sEJt; up and 

prescribe for English an optimum sequence of syntactic units and 

block:so Germm, on the other hand, although it prescribes for 

written discourse certain inflexible patterns of word order,, operates with a complex of inflection and sequence. Our problem was 

first to isolate the syntactic units and syntactic blocks of Gernan 

end then to devise a system by which they could be rearranged in 

a sequence which would produce intelligibility in English. 
.. 

REF ID : A6~,7 ~3 

- 4 -

IV 

To put our operations within a fixed frame of reference we 

designed then for an automatic computer of the type ot the llatioJl8:1 

Bureau of Standards Western Automatic Computer (S'WAC), and we tried 

' 

whenever possible to devise routines which would be convertible 

iubo a series of "instructions" (flow diagrams) that could be iuberpreted and executed by such an autanatic computer. 

Actue.11.y, our operation assumes an automatic setup not entirely 

yet in being: a high-speed automatically-sequenced electronic 

digital computer. to which is attached one or more intermediatespeed auxiliary memories in the form of magnetic drums. (Although 

the computer proper of the S'WA.O has been completed a magnetic drum 

has not yet been integrated into the SWAC computer system.) This 

combination will make possible the following sort of operation: 

l. The foreign-language text, in this case German, is thought 

of as being supplied to the high-speed computer either on tape by 

an especially adapted Flexowriter (this is e.t presm feasible but 

would drastically limit the speed of operation), or through the 

use of one of the devices now in preparation that will make possible 

direct line-by-line scanning of an entire printed page. 

2. Through a series of "instructions" each German word is then 

to be cam.pared with the German words stored in the intermediate-speed 

manory. The intermediate-speed memory is intended to be used both as 

a repository for coded elements and, of course, as a "dictionary." 

3. Each German word on the drum is to have attached to it a 

code number which will serve to indicate its tunction. :rhe ooded 1 

words corresponding to the words appearing in i;h.e text being trans- ~ 

lated, together with their English lexicographica1 equivalents , are to 
.. 

REF ID:A65763 . ' ' 

- 5 -

be transferred from the intermediate-speed memory to the high-speed 

memory or the computer, where they will be temporarily stored. 

4. This process is to be co:r:Itinued until the input introduces 

a:cw- one of' diverse predetermined stop signals {cf. page 9 ); whereupon the high-speed computer will rearrange the a.ccumulated material 

into English patterns and will transfer the English context to an 

output unit. presumably an automatic typewriter. 

v 

Table of Coded Syntactic Units 

1. der; dieser-words in -er; ein-words in -er; descriptive 

adjectives in -!!:_ - - -

2. ~; dieser-words in-:!!_; ein-words in -.!!, 

3. dem; dieser-words in -em; ein-words in -,!!-; descriptive 

adjectives in -,!!!! - -

4. ~; dieser-words in-~; ~-words in-~ 

5. die; dieser-words in -!,J ,!!E:-words in -!, 

6. das; ein-words in zero; descriptiva 

adj ectiVes in -!,! 

7. descriptive adj actives in -en 

8. descriptive adjectives in -e 

9. comparative of descriptive adjectives in zero 

10. " " " " in -er 

11. It " It It in -es 

12. II It " II in -em 

13. " " " " in -en 

14. " " II " in -e 

15. present/past participle in •er 

-- - - -- ---------------
REF ID : A6~.7 63 

.. - 6 -

16. presenli/past participle in -.!.!, 

17. " u in -Elll 

18. n " in -en 

19. " " in -e 

20. masculine noun 

21. f'aninine noun 

22. neuter noun 

23. plural noun 

24. genitive singular ot masculine and neuter nouns 

25. ~; :!!!_; !!,J ~ 

26. mir; ihm; ihnen 

27. mioh; ihn --

28. uns 

- 29. es 

30. sie 

31. siah 

32. wer 

33. wessen 

34. wem. 

35. wen 

36. 118.S 

37. deren; dessen 

38. den en 

39. haben. present singular 

40. haben. presenl; plural; infinitive 

41. ha.ben, pa.st singular 

42. haben, pa.st plural 
REF ID : A6~,7 63 

-., - 4So 11eln• pioesenb a ing'1lar 

44. aein1 present plural 

- ,s. sein. past singular - 4:6. ..!!!!!.• past plural 

47. sein, infinitive - 48. werdeniJ present singular 

49. werden1 present plural; infinitive 

50. warden. past singular 

51. werden, past plural 

52. modal verbs , present singular 

53. modal verbs• present plural: infinitive 

54. modal verbs, past singular 

55. modal verbs, past plural 

5So other verbs, present singular; past participle of' verbs in 

-ieren; past participle of weak verbs with inseparable prefix 

57. obher verbs• presexd; plural; infinitive 

58. other verbs• pa.st singular 

59. other verbs , past plural 

60. pa.st participle in zero 

61. present participle in zero 

62. in.f'initi ve with -zu- inf ix 

63., worden 

64. non-prepositional prefix, umttached (to be attached to finite 

verb of clause inwhioh it ooours} 

65. adverb; descriptive adjective in zero 

66. adverbs of quantity; numerals (to be attached to word :bnmedi• 

ately following) 

67. denn: sondern 
.. 

•. 

REF ID: A6~,163 

- 8 - • 

69. subordinating conjunction 

10. preposition 

71. preposition compounded with da72. int; er:roga tive adverb 

73. zu 

74. ~J~J anste.tt 

75. als 

76. wie 

77. SOJ dann --

78. nicht 

79. contraction of preposition with article 

so. ihr 

81. absolute ad:verbs 

82. e:x;planatory conjunction 

It should be pointed out; that because certain syntactic uni ta 

have two or more functions, it "Was necessary to find some way in 

which these diverse functions oou.ld be differentiated. We ha.ve 

relied upon environmental indioia to solve this problem. 

For example, a glance at the oanbinato:ty chart for nominal 

blocks (p. l:S) will readily reveal the fact that in the case of the 

definite article there are :ne.ey more functions than forms; !!!:.• as 

definite article can mark either the masculine singular noun, the 

genitive or dative feminine noun, or the genitive of a plural noun. 

These functions can be differentiated only by examining the environmezm in which the tom. ~ occurs, i.e., by establishing the nature 

of the nominal form with whioh it is combined. When it is oanbined 

with a feminine noun we have the turther problem. of determining 
REF ID:A65763 

whether the :f."llnotion is genitive or dative. We ban solved this 

by requiring that der be cona1dered to mark the genitive whel18'f'er - it tallows e.ey nominal unit or nan.il:lal block, and that it be 

treated as a :irarker ot the dative in a~ other enviromnent .. a 

routine which, though cpite arbitrary, resulted in accurate 

rea1"rangement in approximately eighty percenb of the oocurrem• 

we examined. 

A1.l other problems raised by functional overlapping are 1olved. 

by 'bhe same procedure or b:f some similar procedure • . 

VI 

Bound.a.r:r :M'a.rks 

1. It is requisite to set up a system of b~da.ry marks, at 

any one or which the :machine is to cease scanning and is to rea:rrange 

into English word order the material it has been storing. Whenerer 

' possible. we have tried to make the meoha:nical boundaries coiXJoide 

with the boundaries of the grammatical clause (independent clause• 

dependent clause. infinitive clause). 

2. J:n.y period, semicolon, colon, question mark, or exolamation point is the terminal boundary of a grammatical clause• 

3.1 The comma can be recognized as the initial boundary DBl"k 

of a subordinate clause whenever it occurs immediately before a 

relative p~onoun. subordinating conjunction, interrogative adverb, 

or interrogative pronounJ or before a preposition followed by aq 

one ot the aforementioned elements. 

3.2 The comma can be recognized as the tem.ina.l boundary nark 

of a. subordinate clause when it precedes either !2. or ~· or when• 
REF ID:A6~763 

- 10 .. 

wer it occurs aft;er a finite verb in a clause introduoed by a 

subordinating element. 

3.3 The comma can be recognized as the terminal bounde.17 m.rk 

of any infinitive clause 'When it occurs :immediately atter an 

infinitive preceded by ~ or an inf."in.itive with ~ inf'ixed. 

4o Except in the environments outlined in 3.1. 3.2. and s.s 

the comma serves only as a mark of coordination, i.e •• marks the 

linkage of like functional units , or the linkage of like partial 

clauses, or the linkage of complete independent clauses (cf'. P• 28 ). 

5. Any group of words isolated within parenthesis, braoket;a, 

or dashes is to be treated as a special (partial) clause. the 

elements of which are to be arranged like those of an independent 

clause, unless they actually constitute a complete subordinate 

clause or infinitive clause. 

VII 

English Sequence of Syntactic Units and Blocks 

Syntactic units and blocks are to be sought for am.arranged 

in the :f."ixed sequences indicated in the tables below. If' any one 

ot the units predicated is missing, the operation is to proceed to 

the next; predicated unit. When more than one element is predicated 

for the same posit ion in any sequence• it is to be understood that 

these elements are mutually exclusive. 

The clausal types are to be identified by the following 

roubine: 

l. If' a German finite verb form (39 through 59, incl.) occurs 

eithe:it imm.edie:bely before the subject or immediately after it, the 

olause can be identified as an independent clause. 
~ 

1 

Prepo1ition 

1 

2 

REF ID : A65·7 63 

- 11 -

2. If' the first verbal 'form encountered in the German text is 

a prepositional inf'initive (62 or 73 + 40, 47, 49, 53, 57), 

the clause can be identified as an intinitive clause. 

3. It the appearance or the finite verbal form is postponed 

unl:;il after the occurrence of one or more of the following syntactic 

uuits or blocks: pronominal indirect object• absolute adverb, 

direct object or predicate nominative, naninative indirect object, 

predicate adjective, unattached prepositional phrase, then the 

clause can be identified as a dependent clause. 

'When the first grammatical clause encountered is a dependent clause 1 

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

Relative Prepo- Subject Verb In.di- Abso- Direct Indi- Adverb 

Pronoun sitional rect lute Object re ct Pre diSubordi- Phrase Object Adverb Pre di- Object cate 

nating (occurring (pro- cate (nomi- AdjecConjunc- before aey nomi- Nomi- nal) tive 

ti on nominal or na.l) native 

Inter- pronominal 

rogative unit) 

Adverb 

Iil6errogative 

Pronoun 

11 

Umttaohed. 

Prepoaitional 

Phrt.1e 

'When the first grammatical clause enoow:rbered is an infinitive olause1 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

Intini- zu plus Indirect Absolute Direct Indirect Adverb Unattached 

tive "fn:rini- Object Adverb Objee.t Object Predicate Pre poPre di- tive (pro- Pre di- (nominal) Adjective sitiona.l 

oat or nominal) cate Phrase 

Nominative 

-----~- ----------~---~----------------'1,j 
'I I 

l 

Prepositiona.l 

Phrase 

(occurring 

before aey 

nominal or 

pronominal 

unit) 

REF ID:A6~763 

- 12 -

When the first gramma.tiaa.l clause encountered is an independent ole.use: 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 

Subject Verb Indirect Abso- Direct Indirect Adverb Una.t• 

Object lute Object Object Predicate taohed 

(pro- Adverb (nomiml) Adjective Preponominal) sit ion· 

al 

Phrase 

independent clause,and a dependent clause or infinitive clause 

intervenes before the subject and the verb have bath been located, 

the intervening clause must be passed over in the scanning until 

·the elements of' the independent clause have been located. 

VIII 

:Mechanical Identification of Nominal Blocks 

J.,ey syntactic unit can be automatically identified by its code 

numbero Blocks which, like the verb, consist of two or more elements, 

but rarely more than three, can be identified without much difficulty 

by prescribing the possible combinations. The function of the noun, 

however, is so diverse and the number of' e laments that may be attached 

to a noun is so unpr!'dictable, that nominal blocks must be identified 

in terms of possible combinations of first and last elements. These 

combinations , though complex. can be prescribed as foll011S: 
REF ID:~65763e 

- 13 -

Combinatory Chart tor Nominal Blocks 

Subject Possessive Indirect Object Direct Object 

Function Function Function Function 

Nominative Genitive Dative Acousa.t ive 

l+ ••• 20 ••• 21; ••• 23 ••• 21 

2+ ••• 22 ••• 24 

3+ ••• 20; ••• 22 

4+ ••• 23 ••• 20 

5+ ••• 21; ••• 23 ••• 21; ••• 23 

6+ ••• 22; ••• 20 ••• 22 

7+ ••• 24 ••• 23 ••• 20 

a+ ••• 21; ••• 23 ••• 21; .•• !~ 

10+ ••• 20 ••• 21; ••• 23 ••• 21 

11+ ••• 22 ••• 24 ••• 22 

• 12+ • •• 20; ••• 22 

13+ ••• 24 ••• 23 • eo20 

14+ ••• 21; ••• 23 ••• 21; ••• 23 

15+ ••• 20 ••• 21; .... 23 ••• 21 

16+ ••• 22 ••• 24 ••• 22 

17+ ••• 20; ••• 22 

18+ ••• 24 ••• 23 ••• 20 

19+ ••• 21; ••• 23 ••• 21; ••• 23 

In terms or this ohart,, a nominal block is said to be a:ny 

predicated sequence of units• the first of Ylhich is a descriptive 

adjective or an article or a dieser-word or an ~-word or an 

adjectival participle (l-19), end the last of which is a noun (20-23), 

as for enmple: 8 23 

versohiedene Mengen 

5 21 

die Menge 
.. 

REF ID : ]\.65 7 63 e - 14 -

5 21 

diese Menge 

5 21 

eine Menge 

19 23 

ausgswlhlte Men.gen 

Predicable elements that oan ocour between the first and last 

element 0£ a noun block are: Numerals, descieiptive adjectives• ant 

adverbs which modify the adjectives occurring in the block. 

5 66 7 18 23 

die vier verschiedenen ausgewihlten Mengel1 

5 77 19 21 

die so gebildete Menge 

Prepositional phrases are nominal blocks of the types predicated ) 

under the rubrioks genitive, dative, accusative. preceded by a preposition (70,73.74). 

70 l 7 23 

1nnerhalb der versohiedenen Mangen 

70 4 18 23 

von den ausgevnli!hlten Jlengen 

Aey prepositional phrase or any genitive consiiruotion which 

immediately follows a noun or a nominal block is to be atiiaohed 

to the noun or nominal block. 

5 23 70 23 

einige Beispiele von Mangen .. 5 19 21 l 23 

eine besiiinmte Anzahl konkreter Gegenst:nde 

The most complicated variety of nominal block is the so-called 

pe.rtioipial construction, with which we include nominal blocks 
1 

---P!•epo-

:ritio.~ 

REF ID:A65763 . e - 16 -

containing adjectives with exbended adverbial modification. These 

blooks require special treatment. They oan usually be 1de:atit1ed 

by the i:atervention o£ a prepositions.l phrase. an adverb. or an 

object block between the initial element and the element immediately 

preceding the noun. Such constructions must be rearranged in the 

following sequences 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

Article, Noun (plus Parti- Indirect Direct Indirect Adverl» 

etc. :i.mme dia tely oipal or Object Object Object PreCll'• 

fo llow:i.ng .Adjective (pro- Pre di- (nominal) oate 

genitive? I:mm.e- nominal) cate Adjeeprepo- diately Nomi• tive 

sitio:nal Preceding native 

phrase) the Noun 

70 3 70 28 18 20 

aus einem vor uns stehenden Obstteller 

70 3 20 18 70 28 

aus einem Obstteller stehenden vor uns 

l 70 80 18 23 

der in ihr zuse.mmenge:fasstm. Frllohte 

l 23 18 70 80 

der Frflchte zusammengetassten in ihr 

9 

U!m.ttaohed 

t'reposit ional 

Phrase 
- 16 - 4lt 

IX 

louil!aea for the I4enb1tioat1o:n of Subjeot, Dil'eot Objeet and Indireot Object. 

1. Bu'bjeot , 

tlwre are owbaill talaoka wbGI• fluld'flion ii al_,. tha~ ot the 

au'b3eot ot the olause in which they oocur. 1'heae ans 

dei-(1) 

- ) 

aq d1eaer1'<>rd in -er(l) ~ ) msouU.ne aingular l1Clllla( ~) 

~ ,!!!-word in zero( 6) ~ . 

a.nu adjeotiT&.l form in -er(1,10,1&)) 

wer(S2) 

-

Theae 1V9 term absolute aubjeot. 

'fh.eN a.re oertain blaoka 'Wb.oae t\lnction is somet:IJua that ot 

1;he aubjeo'b of the clause in which they occur, aome'b1mea tlll.t ot 

the direct object. These are1 

die(S) 

an;y dieser-word in -e(6) 

any e1n111110ztd in -e{5) -

) 

) 

l f'em.:1.nine aingu.19.r 11ClaD( 21) 

or plural noun(2S) ) 

~ adjectival form in •e(8,14el9)) 

de.s(6) 

- ) 

~ · ) neuter aingule.r nomi(22) 

alliY' ein-word in - zero(6) ~ 

acy adjectival tozm in •ea(s,11.~a)~ 

a.n:r diesei-word in •ea(G) 

ea(29) 

-

sie(30) 

-

118.8(36) 

-

ILDl' :noma( ao.aa > 

!heae..., tem. poea1ble aub.jeot/cUnot-objeot bloaJm. 
ID:A65763 

e - 1T ~ 

If a single possible subjeot/direot-object block occurs in a 

clause (other the.n an infinitive clause) which contains no absolute 

•ubjeo~t this po111ble aubjeot/direot .. objeot block :Le to be 

identified as the subject of that clause. 

( •••••••••• Subject •••••• ~ 

Die restlose Erforschung des Wa.ssers in seinen fasten 

Zusta.ndsformen ist noch nioht abgesohlossen. 

If two possible subject/direct-object blocks oocur in 

the same clause, tbs first-occurring possible subject/direct-o'bjeot 

block is to b~ identified rs the subject of that clause. 

I 

(Subject) 1 

••• dass die Menge eine Anzahl konkreter Gegenstlnde enthilt ••• I . I . 

( •••••••••• Subject ••••••••••• ) 

••• dass die technischen .A.usa.rbeitungen Frllohte gezeitigt haben.. 

2. Direct Objeot 

There are certain blocks whose function is always that of -bhe 

direct object of 9Jl.Y clause in which they occur. These are: 

den(4) ) 

l 

) 

any dieser-word in -en{4) 

any ~1ord in -en( 4) ) masculine singular noun(20) 

) 

any adjectival form 1n -en(7,l3.18)) 

mich(27), ihn(27) - - wen(35) 

-

These we term absolute direct object blocks. 
REF ID:A65763 

- 18 - • 

There are certain blocks whose function is sometimes that ot 

the direct object of the clause in which they occur, sometimes that 

ot ~he subject. ~hese are' 

die(5) ) 

~ ) 

e:n:y- dieser-word in -e(5) 

any ein-word in •e(S) ) fan.inine singular nouu.(21) 

- ) or plural noun( 23) 

any adjectival form in -e(S,14,19)) 

~(6) 

any dieser-word in -es(6) 

ru:iy ~word in zero(6) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) neutel" 

) 

any adjectival form in -es(6,ll1l6)) 

es(29) 

~(30) 

1t1B.S(36) 

any noun(20-23) 

singular nQljpJ.(22) 

These we term possible subject/direct-object blocks. 

If a possible subject/direct-object block occurs in an 

infinitive clause, it is to be identified as the object of that 

clause. 

( •• Object •• ) 

••• , um das Problem zu 18s en. 

If any clause contains two possible subject/direct-object 

blocks, the possible subject/direct-object block rejected as the 

subject of that clause is to be ide:rrl:iified as the object of that 

clause. 

(Subject) ( •• Object •• ) 

••• , da.ss die Menge eine Anzahl ko:rik:reter Gegenstande " ezrl;halt. " 
REF ID:A65763-

- 19 -

There are certain blocks which may function either as the 

direct object of the clause in 'Which they occur, or as the indirect 

objeet. !hese a.res 

uns(28) 

sioh(31) 

'When there is no other unit or block identifiable as direct 

object, ~ or~ is to be identified as direct object. When 

there is a.nal:iher unit or block identifiable as direot object, 

~and .E:2h. are to be identified as indirect object. 

(Dir. Object) 

Wir denlcen uns eine Anzahl kcmkreter Gegenstlnde ••• 

When two possible direct objects occur in the same clause, 

the second-occurring possible direct object is to be identified 

as the direct object and the first-occurring unit or block as 

the indirect object. 

(Ind. Object) (Dir. Object) 

Ioh ha.be Kriegskam.eraden 8de Stunden verlcilrzen k8nnen ••• 

s. Indirect Object 

There are certain blocks which always have a dative function 

(usually indirect object) in any clause in which they occur. These 

are: 

dem(3) ~ 

acy dieser-word in -em(3) ) 

) any msculine singular 

aey ein-word in -em( 3) ) noun( 20), ~ neuter - ) singular noun( 22) 

a.ny adjectival form in -em.(3,12.17)) 
REF ID:A65763 

- 20 -

den(4) 

. l 

aey dieser-word in -en(4) } 

) 

any ein•word :1.n -en(4) ) any plul'a.l noun(2S) - ) 

any adjeot ival form in •en( 7 ,13 el8)) 

~· ~· ibnen(26) 

ihr(80) (when used pronom.ine.lly, i.e., when not imm.edia:belr 

preceding a masculine or neu.ter singular noun or the 

adjectival modifiers of a masculine singular or neuter 

singular noun) 

These we term absolute datives. 

There are units 'Whose function is sometimes that of the 

indirect object, somsbimes that of the direct object in aIIY' clause 

in whioh they occur. These are: 

uns(28) 

sich(31) 

(cf. pago 19) 

There are certain blocks whose function is sometimes dative,, 

sometimes genitive in any clause in which they occur. They are: 

any dieser-word in -er(l) 

~ der(l) 

any ein-word in -er(l) ) any f'an.inine singular - ) noun(21) 

any adjectival form. in -er(l,10.15)) 

These are termed possible genitive/dative blocks. A:lJ'3 

possible genitive/dative block nab previously identified as a 

genitive block is to be identified as a dative block (ct. page 9 ). 
REF ID:A65763 

- 21 - e 

x 

Jleohanical Identification of Verbal Blocks 

-ieren; 

w-.Jc verbs, sep. 

haben sein werden moda.l insep. pref. prefix other - ,N1ent; 

aiqular 39 43 48 52 56 56 56 

pre1m 

plual 40 44 49 53 57 5'7 57 

past 

lingular 41 45 50 54 58 58 58 

pa•t plural 42 46 51 55 59 59 59 

inf'initive 40 47 49 53 57 57 57 

intinit:i,ve 

with infix 62 

i>ut 

participle 60 60 60 60 56 60 60 

The English sequence of verbal elements is always to be: 

l. The finite verb. 

2. The past participle. 

3. The modal infinitive. 

4o The dependent infinitive. 

If a.nu of the above elements are missing in a given clause,, 

the remaining elements are to retain their positions relative to 

each other. ~ 

XI 

Routines for the Identification of Verbal Functions 

'fhe major problem. of identifying verb functions is caused by 

the h~ in all verbs of the infinitive and the lst and 3rd 

plurals, present tense. There is, however, also hano:eymy between 
' 

REF ID:A65763 

- 22 -

the past participle of verbs 'Whose inf.'initive ends in --ieren and 

the 3rd singular present tense forms of these verbs. There is a 

eim.f.la.r homo~ between the pa.st participle of' weak verbs with 

inseparable prefixes and their 3rd singular present; tense forms. 

Finally, a further problem. is raised by the homo:ny.m;y of the 

infinitive, a:r:id the lst and 3rd plurals of the present; tense ot 

m.odals with the old infinitive-participle form. of these verbs in 

the so-called "double infinitive" construction. 

We propose a solution of these problems along the f'ollow.ln.g 

lines: 

In~ clause in 'Which the only verb form present ill an 

in:f'initiveh>lural form, this form is to be identified as a plural. 

(3rd pl.) 

Die Elem.ante bilden eine Menge. 

In aey independent clause in which the onq verb forms a.ite 

two infinitive/plural forms• the first-occurring infinitive/ 

plural form is to be identified as a plural, the second-ooeurring 

form is to be identified as an infinitive. 

(3rd pl.) (inf.) 

Wir k8nnen die Menge a.us diesen Elementen bilden. 

If two infinitive/plural f'orms occur in the same clause and 

a form of the verb warden also occurs, the first-occurring 

i:Dfinitive/plural form. is to be identified as the dependent 

i:ci'initive, the second-occurring infinitive/plural form is to 

be identified as the modal infinitive. The form. of' the verb 

werden is to be identified as the finite verb. 

(finite) (dep. int.) (modal inf.) 

Wir werden die Menge a.us diesen Elem.enten bilden k8n.nen. 
REF ID:A65763 

- 2! - • 

It two infinitive/plural forms occu:r in the same clause with 

some :f'orm of the verb baben,, the i'irst-ocourring infinitive/plural 

tozam 11 iso be ident!.tted as the c!ependent intinit 1Te • the s eoondoecurring intinitive/plura.l form as the past participle. The t'Ol".lll 

of the verb ha.hen is to be identified as the finite verb. 

(finite) (dep. int.) (past pa.rt.) 

W'ir haben die Menge aus diesen Elementen bilden k8nnen. 

In a dependent clause in which the only verb forms ocourriag 

are two infinitive/plural forms, the first-occurring infinitive/ 

plural :f'orm is to be identified as a dependent infinitive, the 

second-occurring infinitive/plural form is to be identi:f'ied as the 

plural form. 

(int.) (3rd pl.) 

••• ,, weil wir die Menge aus dies en Elem.enten bilden k8nnen ••• 

If a present/pa.st participle verb form is the only verb :t.'orm 

occurring in a clause,, it is to be identified as a present singula~. 

(3rd sing.) 

Cantor definiert folgendermassen den Begrifi' der Menge: 

In any clause in which a present/past participle form occurs 

with any form. of the verb haben or S«!in,, the present/past participle 

form is to be identified as a past participle, the :f'om of hs.ben or 

sein is to be identified as the finite verb. 

(past pa.rt.) 

Cantor hat den Begrif'f der Menge folgenderma.ssen definiertt 

(past part.) 

· ·Ir "1; seit zwei Wochen verreist. 
' • REF ID:A65763 • 

- 24 -

XII 

Adverbs 

!he routine tor adve:itbs is relat1Tely simple. Adverbs ot 

qua.ntit;y(66) are to be attached to the word immediately f'ollowing 

them. Adverb/adjective £orms(65) and absolute adverbs(Sl) are 'bo 

be a.ttache4 to any adjective,article1 or other adverb that they 

immediately precede. otherw;tse they are to be placed in the 

position prescribed for them in the sequence of functional unitae 

(link to ~) 11 

••• aus einem vor uns stehenden Obsttellei" etwa :f'uni' Apfel ••• 

(lil:lk to billigen) 

So verbirgt sich hier hinter dem. scheinbar billigen Effekt eine feine!le 

Absicht. 

(move fewisserma.ssen to pre-final position) 

Wer ko:nnen die E emeiite gewissermassen in einen Sack geworfeneoadenken. 

XIII 

The procedures previously outlined make possible a Pough 

syntactic ittterpretation of the principal "parts of speech": nouns• 

pronouns. verbs. adverbs. adjectives. conjunctions. prepositions. 

In the application of these procedures, however. we not infrequently 

encountered problems of :f'unotional overlapping for 'Which no pravis ion 

had been made. We tound it possible to solve f!IV'ery such problem. by 

setting up r011tines which provided for the mechanical scanning ot 

the environment in which the problematic element occurred. The 

following routines are intended to serve as a representative sampling. 

l. Relative Pronouns. Except; for special genitive and dative 

forms the relative pronoun is represen-bed by forms identical wii;h 

those of the definite article dar and the interrogatiTe weleher. -
REF ID:A65763. 

- 25 -

When these forms occur as relative pronouns, they are always 

separated by a comma from the word immediately preceding them, 

or a.i"e p!'eceded by a preposition which in turn is separated by 

e. comma !'rom the word immediately preceding it. Relative pronouns can be identified by scanning beyond every such pattern 

of occurrence to see whether a predicated nominal unit follows. 

Ii' no predicated nominal unit follows• the form is to be 

. identified as a relative pronoun. 

5 5 23 

•••• welche die Elem.ante der Menge genannt warden. 

(5-5-23 is not a predicated nominal sequence) 

5 70 5 21 

••• , die wir uns in eine Reihe angeordnet denken. 

(5 ••• 70-5-21 is not a predicated nominal sequence) 

2. Ma.:ey of the unattached verbal prefix forms are identiaal 

with those of prepositions. When such a form (70,73.74) occurs 

immediately before azcy- punctuation mark or before a coordinating 

conjunction it is to be prefixed to the finite verb of' the clause. 

70 

Der Eisbrecher f'Uhrt " besondere Man.over . a.us ••• 

(aus.tahrt) 

73. 

Er drllckte den Deckel zu. 

(zudrdckte) 

74 

Er arbeitete s ein f!"l!heres Werk um. 

(umarbeitete) 

3. ~· ohne, anstatt. These words function both as prepositions and as introductory elements to the inf'initive clause. In 

their latter function. they can be identified by the occurrence ot 
REF ID:A65763. 

- 26 -

zu plus intinitive. or ot an infinitive with su infiz. in the - - alauae of which they form the initial elements. 

73 5'1 

n Um daa Problem. numeriaoh su losen ••• 

62 

ohne sich in die Gedarlk:en.glnge der Mengenlehre hineinzu:f'inden ••• 

82 

Ansta.tt die neue Methode einzusohliessen 

(In all of these examples the appearance of 82 or of the 

combination 73•57 makes idenbitication possible.) 

4. ~functions as a prepesition. as an adverb, and as the 

constant element of the prepositional infinitive. In nery case 

it is to be attached to the element that immediately follows it. 

~plus inf'initive is always to be rearranged as the initial unit 

ot the clause in which it occurs. 

73 65 

Die Anzahl ist schon zu gross. 

( 73-85 identifies ~ as adverb) 

73 4 23 

Zu solchen Pflanzen geh8ren RHbsen und Flachs. 

(73-4-23 identifies ~as preposition) 

73 5'7 

Um das Problem numerisch zu lSs en,, ••• 

(73-57 identities ~as pa.rt of prepositional infinitive) 

5. als has at least three diverse functions 1 subordinating 

conjunction, c anparative conjunction, and to link appositives. In 

the first of these functions it can be identif'ied by the f'act that 

it will either be capitalized or will be preceded by a comma. !he 

second f'unction can be identified only by the oocurrenoe ot an 

adjective of eomparative degree (9-14) in the tunotional unit 
REF ID:A65763 e - 27 -

immediately preceding its occurrence. In its third :function it 

can be iden:tit'ied because it will always lilik: like elements or 

tu.no'l;ional units. 

75 

••• • ala wir de.s Problem zum. erstenmal betrachteten • 

(oonnna identifies !!!_as conjunction) 

9 75 

Die eine Summe ist grBsser als die and.ere. 

(9-75 identifies !.!!_as comparative conjunction) 

75 

Ich a.ls Mathematik:er finde es schwer ••• 

(absence of conditions tor subordinating or comparative 

conjunction makes possible identitication as appositive 

link) 

6. so. All functions of so are adverbial, and it should - always be attached to the element that immediately follows it except 

when it occurs as the first element ot an independent clause preceded 

by a depende:al:; clause. In the latter case it is to be retained as 

the first unit of the independent clause. 

77 

Die A.nzahl d~ sQ gebildeten m.engen ••• 

• •• J' 

••• ,J 

(Liillc to the participial adjective) 

77 53 25 6 22 57 

so k8nnen wir unser Ziel erreichen • 

77 25 53 57 6 22 

so wir kgnnen erreiohen wm er Ziel 

7. ~ perf'orms two functions: that of a dative feminine pronoun and that of the neuter and masculine singular of the possessive 

adjective. In :l-bs pronominal function it can be identified by the 

tact that it does not; immediately preoede a neuter singular or 
REF ID:~?5763 e - 28 -

masouline singtlla.r nottn. 01' the modifiers ot these naana. In its 

adjeotival fanction it must always preoede a masouline singular 

or neuter singular noun. or its modifiers. 

80 22 n 

Ihr Problem. ist achwieriger als man hatte erwarten kgnnen. 

(80-22 identifies .!!!!:. as possessive adjective) 

80 14 II 

Wenn wir die Menge gebildet baben, kBnnen wir ihr weitere Elsmente 

h . ....., J.nZU.1. w.gene 

(Absence ot conditions tor identification ot possessive 

adjective indicates pronominal function) 

XIV 

coSrdina.tion. Und, ~· a.bar, and the comma 

The problem. or ooBrdination proved to be the most oan.plioated 

of those with which we were confronted, and the solutions we propose 

are to be regarded as tentative. We have not attempted to work out 

this problem. conclusively since the solution of it will differ from. 

language to language (variance in systems of punctuation will be 

critical) and since there is no pressing need at the present time 

for a final solution of' the problem in terms or German. 

When one 0£ these coordinating elements occurs, the first 

operation is to scan beyond it to see whether the next unit in 

sequence is of the same grammatical category as the one innnediately 

preceding it. If it belongs to the same category, we may assume 

a linkage of like elements. 

66 

••• a.us einem vor uns stehenden Obstteller etwa 5 

23 66 23 66 23 

Apfel, 2 Birnen, und l Aprikose 

(The apposition of the sequences 66-23, 66-23, 

66-23 indicates lillkage of like elE1D.ents) 
REF ID:A65763 

- 29 -

If the elements li:nked are nominal. a check must be made to see 

whether a preceding nominal unit with attached genitive or preposi-biona.1 phrase is linked to a f'ollowing nominal unit having the same 

function. 

Die Anekdote waist Z-llge auf'. die wir oft in der Volksdiohtung 

a 21 21 i 21 a1 

finden: episoderik:afte K'llrze. Betonung der Handlung. Be1chr!ilkung 

70 6 22 

auf das Notwendige. 

(The lirikage indicated is B-21+21-1·21+21•70-6-22) 

If the elements linked are verbal. then the following code 

number combinations are the only ones which can be considered to 

indicate a linkage o£ like elements. 

56 + coordinating element + 56 

57 + coordimting element + 57 

58 + coordixlating element + 58 

59 + coordinating element + 59 

60 + coordimting eleme:al; + 60 

56 + coordimtin.g element + 60 

56 56 

Er suoht und findet eine algebraische L8sung. 

57 57 

Wir suchen und finden algebraische LBsungen. 

58 58 

Er suchte und :f'e.nd algebraische L8sungen. 

59 59 

Wir suchten und fanden algebraisohe L8sungen. 

60 60 

Wir haben algebraisohe L8sungen gesuoht und getunden. 

56 60 

Er hat das Problem studiert und gel8st. 
.. 

I 

REF ID:A65763. 

- 30 -

No other combination is to be interpreted as a li:nkage of 

like verbal elements. When any other combination occurs, the 

ooord!nating element can be identified as the c1ausal boundary. 

42 59 

.A.ls wir das erste Problem. gel8st hatten, entdeckten wir, daaa 

(42-59 cannot indicate lin'kage ot like elements) 

If no linkage ot like units is indicated, we must proceed to 

scan for a canplete clause of the same type as that preceding 11h• 

coordinating element. 

Obviously, the list or elements that require special identif'ication is incomplete, and the series of special routines would have 

to be extended considerably if completeness were to be sought. 

Nevertheless this systsn, for all its tentative nature, will produoe 

cl'Ude intelligibility, as the appended rearrangement ot a German 

text may serve to indicate. 

The further appended translation of the rearrangement into 

EngU.sh. which assumes lexicographical interpretation,, is supplied 

only for the comrenienoe of the reader. 

l. Original German texts 

From.: Adolf Fraenkel, Einleitun.g in ~ ~enlehre 

(New York, Dover Pu.blioations, l94GPP• 4-5. 

39 4 20 l 21 81 56 

CANTOR hat den Begriff der Menge folgendermassen definierts 

5 21 43 5 21 1 l 

Eine Menge ~ !.!!!!. Zusa.mmenf'assung best:i:mmt;er wohlunterschiedener 

23 l 21 68 2 24 5 5 23 

Objekbe unserer A.nschauw;g .2!!.!!: unseres Denlcens -- welche 2!! Elamen'f:e 

l 21 60 49 73 3 22 ~ Menge g_enannt warden ... ~ einem Ge.nzen. 
"\ 

REF ID:A65763. 

- 31 -

23 69 25 5 21 79 22 

1. Beispiele. Bevor wir diese Definition im llinzelnen 

57 53 25 5 23 70 23 57 

zergliedem, wollen wir einige Beispiele von Mangen betra.chten. 

s 28 8 22 79 22 l 21 

die uns anscbauliches Material zum Verstlndnis der Definition 

57 53 

lietern sollen.. 

25 57 28 5 8 21 l 23 

l. Wir denken uns eine bestimmte .Anzahl konkreter Gegenstllnde, 

82 70 3 70 28 18 20 66 66. 23 66 BS 

Z• B. aus einem vor uns stehenden Obstteller etwa 5 Apfel, 2 lil'J1e, 

68 66 21 l 20 1 66 23 56 5 21 64 

und l AprikoseJ der Inbegrif.f dieser 8 Dinge stellt eine Menge dai-. 

5 23 l 77 18 21 44 5 7 23 

Die Elem.ante der so gebildeten Menge sind die einzelnen Fnfchte; 

70 4 70 l 21 l 23 81 7 

dnrch den bei aller Handgreiflichkeit dieser Elem.ante doch gedanklic~en 

20 l 21 73 3 22 40 25 5 21 l 66 

Akt ihrer Zusammenfassung zu einem Ganzen baben. wir die Menge der 8 

23 60 5 21 56 66 81 8 

Fr-8.chte gebildet. Die Menge enthRlt 8 untereinander verschiedene 

23 5 25 28 70 5 21 60 57 82 6 

Elem.ante, die wir uns in eine Reihe angeordnet denken (z. B.: ein 

l 20 6 l 20 82 5 5 21 5 5 

erster Apfel, ein zweiter Apfel, usw., die eine Birne, die andere 

21 65 81 5 21 57 25 70 l 7 

'.\3i:rne, endlioh zulEJtzt die Aprikose). Sehen wir von der besonderen 

21 l 7 23 64 77 56 28 5 21 81 81 6 

Natur der einzelnen Elem.ante ab, so stellt uns die Menge nur mehr ein 

22 64 70 3 20 81 81 81 

Ordnu_ng_sschema dar mit dem. lrlha.lt: erstens, zweitens, ••• , achtens • .... .-._.......: - ... ,.,·"'~ 

65 53 25 70 .70 l 21 1 23 68 81 70 

Endlich k~nnen wir ausser von der Natur der Elemente auch noch von 

l 21 57 6 23 81 70 4 20 

ihrer Anordnung absehen, die Elem.ante gewissermassen in einen Sa.ck 
' • REF ID:A65763 

.. S2 • 

60 68 60 57 77 56 28 

geworfen und durohei:candergesch«ttelt denkenJ dann vermittelt uns 

5 81 75 ' 20 81 81 5 21 l 70 80 

die Menge a.ls einzigen Inha.lt nur :mehr die Anza.hl der in ihr 

19 23 65 5 21 66 

zusa:mm.engefe.sste Fl"ifohte, mmlioh die Anzahl 8. 

2. Rearrangement of German te:idi according to system described 

above: 

~ 

Cantor bat definierb folgendermassen den Begriff der Menges 

Eine Menge ist eine Zusamm.enf'a.ssung bestimmber wohlu.ntersohiedener 

Objekte unserer Anschauung oder unseres Delllcens -- welche werden genannt 

die Elem.ante der Menge -- zu einem. Ganzen. 

1. Beispiele. Bevor wir zergliedern diese Definition im Einzelnen, 

wir wollen betrachten einige Beispiele von !lengen. die sollen liefern 

uns anschauliohes Material zum Verstindnis der Definition. 

l. Wir denk:en uns eine 'f?est:lmmbe .A:nzahl konkreter Gegenstinde, 

z. B. aus einem Obstteller stehenden vor uns etwa 5 Rptel, 2 Birnen, 

und l Aprikose; der Inbegriff' dieser 8 Dinge darstellt eine Menge. 

Die Elem.ente der Menge so gebildeten sind die einzelnen FrfichteJ 

durch den .Akb ihrer Zusammenf'a.ssung .zu einem Ga.nzen doch gedarikliohen 

bei aller Hsndgreiflichkeit dieser Elem.ante wir ha.ban gebildet die 

:Menge der 8 Fri!chte. Die Menge en.thllt 8 untereinallder versohiedene 

Elem.ante, die wir denken an.geordnet uns in eine Reihe (z. B. ein 

erster Apf'el, ein zweiter Apfel, usw., die eine Birne. die a.ndere 

Birne. zuletzt die Aprikose eudlioh.) Wir absehen von. der Na.tur der 

einzelnen Elem.ante so die Menge da.rstellt uns nur mehr ein Ordnungsschema mit dam Inha.lta erstens, zweitens, ••• a.ohtens. Wir k8men 

absehen ausser von der Na.tur auch von ih.rer Anord.nung noch, denken 
• REF ID:A65763 e - 33 -

geworfen die Elem.ente in einen Sack gewissermassen und durchein!nde:rgeschutteltj die Menge vermittelt uns de.nn nur :rnehr die Anzahl der 

Friohte zuslJllllL9D.getasate in ihr a.ls einzigen Inbalt. :nd!m.lioh die 

Anza.hl a. 

3. English translation of rearrangement. (111Phena.tion ot 

words indicates tba t two or more English word.I are needed to tram• 

late one German word.) 

Cantor has defined as follows the concept of the set: 

A set is a collection of definite well-distinguished objects 

of-our percept;ion or o:f'-our thought -- which will be called 

elements -- to a whole. 

1. Examples. Before we analyze this definition in detail, 

we 'lllBJit;-to regard some examples of sstis, which shall i'urniah ua 

perceptible :material foi-the understanding of-the definition. 

l. We think to-ourselves a definite number of-concrete 

objects, for example ou.t-of a fruit-plate standing before us 

roughly 5 apples, 2 pears, and l apricot: the sum of-these 8 

things represents a set. The elements of the set; so for.med are 

the single fruits J through the aot of-their collection to a. "Whole 

still imaginary along-with all palpability of-these elements we 

have formed the set; of-the 8 fruits. The set contains 8 among-oneanother different elements, which we think ordered to-ourselves 

in a series (for example, a first apple, a second apple, etc., the 

one pear,, the other pear, last the apricot finally.) ·we take-noaccount of the nature of the individual elements, so the set; 

represents to-us only a sohem.e-o:t'-order with the contents first, 
• REF ID:A65763 

- 34 - • 

second, ••• eighth. We can ta.ke-no•aocount besides of the riature 

also or their order still, think tossed as-it-were the elements 

into a sack and shaken-a.bout; the set comreys to-us then only the 

number of-the fruits comprised in it a.s sole content, :namely the 

number a. 

XVI 

Although we a.re i'ully aware tbat our proposals are in no 

sense definitive, they do demonstrate that problems of' syntax and 

grammar ca.n be solved mechanically, and that s;yntax there:f.'oite does 

not constitute, as had been thought by some, a barrier to m..almni· 

cai translation. However, before an elaboration of these proposal1 

could serve any useful purpose, it would be necessary to have much 

more e:xa.ot information than is at presenb. available about the lex!.• 

cographical aspect of the problem. of mechanical tra:nslation. We 

should sugges-& tba.t -&he following three steps must be taken to make 

mechanical -&ransla.tion feasible. 

1. An analysis of the number of items of ea.ch part or speech 

required to sustain discourse. That is, we should need to know haw 

many noun forms, how many pronoun forms, how maey verb f'orms, how 

many adjectives, adverbs, conjuno'bions • prepositions, parbicles, ·eto._. 

are encountered in aey rela-&ively long semple of discourse, and 

the ratio of ea.oh of these classes required to arrive a.t a.zw 

desired degree of understanding of the context. This information, 

which will be crit ica.l in determining the optimum size of the 

machine vocabulary, is not available. All previous investigations 

of word frequency have aim.ply counl:ied lexicographical i'f;enlS. 
.. • 

REF ID:A65763·.\ 

.. :55 .. 

2. When the ophim.um ~ ot the arerall ms.ohine voaa.bUla:r:f 

baa been worked oub 1 we shou.ld then wish to determine wha. t 

. - 1~1•ographioal items would be needed i:o tl'BJ1s 1a.te T&rious kind.I 

ot apeoif'io di•oourae. 

3. When both the optimum. size and the specii'io oontent ot 

"bhe maohine vocabularies have been detnmined, we should then. 

and only then, ?tish to return to the question ot how best to sol'Vlt 

mechanically the syntactical problems o:r any specific language. 

It would then also be appropriate to examine simultaneously the 

question of whether the lexicographical items could nob be st014'ed 

in the mechanical mE111.oey- by some system which would take a.d:V'a.nta.ge 

of the fa.ct tbs. t the languages with which we are likely to be 

concerned em.ploy a more or less regular pattern of endings which 

a.re attached to the roots of words. The problem of storage b,y 

,_.oot and ending would impinge upon the problem. of coding tor 

synbactical interpretation. 

We are indebted to Dr. Harry D. Huskey,, Assistant Director ot 

the Institute for Numerical .Am.lysis • whose interest in the possi• 

bilities of mechanical translation inspired this project and whose 

guidance was invaluable at fSV'ery stage of our investigation. We 

also owe a. debt ot gratitude to our University of California 

colleagues Dr. Harry Hoijer, Pro:f.'essor of Anthropology. and Dr. 

William E. Bull. Assistant Professor 0£ Spanish. tor advice and 

criticism. 

Los Angeles, December 14, 1960.