The first Cranfield International Conference on Machine Translation, jointly organised by the BCS-NLTSG and Cranfield University, was held in 1984. A second Cranfield conference was held in 1994.

Machine Translation is now some 60 years old and in view of the success of the previous Cranfield conferences; we are marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the first conference at Cranfield by holding another this November.

The title for the Conference is: Machine Translation: Twenty-Five Years On

Emphasis at the Conference will be given to the latest research in MT and MAT, illustrated wherever possible by computer demonstrations of working systems.

It is also hoped that some talks will be by translation practitioners willing to share their problems, needs and ideas with those building MAT systems.

Since the last conference, the influence of the Web cannot be ignored. It is expected that the Conference will help to give an impetus for further research and development in MT and MAT in the coming years.

We think everyone agreed how successful and enjoyable both the '84 and ’94 Cranfield Conferences were. We are expecting the 2009 Cranfield Conference to be even better.

Fees are:

For those who can only attend 1 day:
Day 1 fee £200 plus VAT (includes banquet exhibition, and receipt of proceedings)
Day 2 fee £150 plus VAT

For those who can only attend 1 day:
Day 1 fee £250 plus VAT (includes banquet)
Day 2 fee £200 plus VAT

Full conference fee includes sessions, banquet, exhibition, and receipt of proceedings: Student fee £150 plus VAT Academic staff fee £200 plus VAT

Extra tickets for Banquet £50 +VAT Extra copies of Proceedings £50 + VAT

To book online for this event please go to www.bcs.org/events/registration.

Events are in date order please scroll down to the 21st November.

For more information on the event please go to http://nltsg.bcs.org/mtconf2009/index.html

Please note:

Residential accommodation is separate to the above fees but is available at Cranfield at 45.50 GBP + VAT per person per night for bed and breakfast. Please book directly with the hall: http://www.mitchellhall.info/?page_id=9

Details of the programme of Machine Translation: 25 Years On conference, orgnised by the BCS Natural Language Translation specialist group is now available from the conference website.

The BCS network is now live and a Natural Translation Group forum has been set up. This will eventually replace the existing forums and Wiki

Details of the Machine Translation: 25 Years On conference, orgnised by the BCS Natural Language Translation specialist group is now available. The submission deadline is 24 August 2009. More information and online booking is available from the conference website: nltsg.bcs.org/mtconf2009/.

There is now a search option on each of the website pages, and searches can be restricted to the new or old websites. The content of the previous Machine Translation group website is now available from an archive section of this website: nltsg.bcs.org/archive/.

We are organising an International Conference on Machine Translation and Computer-aided Translation in Milton Keynes in November 2009. Please send expressions of interest to mtconf@bcs.org

A group dedicated to the Natural Language Translation Specialist Group has been formed on the Facebook social networking site and is open to all.

Welcome to the new website of the British Computer society Natural Language Translation specialist group.

The minutes of the AGM held on 25 June 2008 are available from the link below.

Minutes of the 2008 AGM (PDF)

Following the recent changes at BCS I am very pleased to be able to tell you of the relaunch of the NLTSG. Following the extensive email discussions earlier this year five BCS members have been found who are prepared to act as officers to the committee.

A new constitution for the group has been drawn up (see attachments) which conforms to the requirements placed upon us by the Charity Commission via BCS HQ.

We have yet to formally appoint officers and committee members but plan to do this at the group's AGM which is to be held at BCS London at 7 p.m. on 25th June.

Find below the Agenda for the AGM, Chairman and Treasurer's reports for last year and short biographies of those willing to stand as officers.

Any others who wish to stand as officers or committee members please forward your nomination to me at this email address by 9th June, endorsed by two members of the group. Prospective officers should include a short Bio, max 100 words. If anyone cannot easily contact two other members to endorse their candidature please indicate this and we will attempt to find sponsors for you.

We hope to see significant numbers at our AGM not least to contribute to the debate which will follow in which we will agree a programme for 2008/9.

Please note: Those expecting to attend should email the acting secretary, Jon Riding to confirm their attendance. Please note: I am away overseas from 10/6/08 to 19/6/08 and will not respond to e-mails during that time.

I look forward to seeing you on the 25th.

Jon Riding Act. Sec. BCS NLTSG.

2008 AGM Agenda (PDF)
Group Constitution (PDF)
Officer Biographies (PDF)