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Honestly, the more I think about this, the more I think that we'll have an English-to-English translating algorithm as soon as we have a "classical-masterpiece"
by mcantor 16y ago
Honestly, the more I think about this, the more I think that we'll have an English-to-English translating algorithm as soon as we have a "classical-masterpiece"-writing algorithm or a "painting-so-beautiful-it-makes-you-cry"-creating algorithm; that is, probably never. I'm no expert writer, but I know a few, and it seems to me that excellent writing style is more than reading Strunk & White cover-to-cover while reciting mnemonics for choosing between "who" and "whom." It's also knowing when to break or bend the rules, how to break or bend the rules, and why to break or bend the rules. That's the kind of spontaneous creativity that I don't think computers are even close to emulating, much less learning.
- hxa7241 16y agoAs Wittgenstein said, "language is a form of life" -- it is not just a system of encoding. But something like Photoshop filters for text style might be possible. You can imagine the cheesy use of, say, gothic-romanticising, like overdone HDR tone mapping. But there are useful image manipulations too, when well deployed, and there must be similar potential for text, maybe more so given its more structured form . . .
- kaens 16y agoHave you read http://www.unc.edu/~mumukshu/gandhi/gandhi/hofstadter.htm http://www.unc.edu/~mumukshu/gandhi/gandhi/hofstadter.htm ?