A deconverter framework for Malayalam

Abstract

This paper discusses the design and implementation of a deconverter framework for the Malayalam Language. The Universal Networking Language or UNL facilitates translation between Natural Languages across the world. The paper focuses on the linguistic aspects of Malayalam required for the deconversion process. The case marking module handles the different UNL relations and their corresponding language features in Malayalam. A Morphological Generator takes care of generation of Malayalam words with the appropriate case endings and features, with respect to the cases and UNL attributes present in the UNL expression. The words are rearranged by the Syntax Planning Module to produce proper Natural Language sentences. These language dependent features for Malayalam have been successfully incorporated into a Deconverter Framework that handles English and Tamil currently. The Deconverter for Malayalam can currently produce simple Malayalam sentences and handle sentences with single clausal phrases also. It is being enhanced to handle more types of sentences. The present system is a small achievement towards attaining a complete translation facility for the Malayalam language. The following sections examine what has been implemented so far in the Deconverter and what more can be done to realize that dream of a translation facility.