Intro--further study

The following is from a question posed to https://www.perplexity.ai/ on 27.11.24.

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Research on reading interlinear text, where the source language is presented on one line and the target language on the next, has gained attention, particularly in relation to eye movement studies. Here are some key findings and methodologies from recent studies:

## Eye Movement Studies in Reading

**1. Eye Tracking as a Tool**  
Eye tracking is widely used to investigate how readers process text. It captures detailed information about eye movements—fixations (where the eyes stop) and saccades (rapid movements between fixations)—which are crucial for understanding cognitive processes during reading. Studies have shown that reading involves a complex interplay of visual attention and cognitive processing, with readers often skipping words or returning to previous ones based on context and familiarity with the material[1][4].

**2. Interlinear Text and Cognitive Processing**  
While specific studies on interlinear text are limited, related research indicates that the format can significantly impact reading efficiency. For example, a study explored how different line spacing affected reading in Chinese, revealing that eye movement patterns can be influenced by text presentation styles[1]. This suggests that interlinear formats might similarly affect how readers allocate their visual attention.

**3. Effects of Text Manipulation**  
Studies examining mirrored text (both vertically and horizontally) provide insights into how alterations in text presentation can disrupt reading processes. These investigations found that such manipulations increased reading times and altered fixation patterns, indicating that cognitive load increases when readers encounter unexpected formats[2]. This could imply that interlinear text may also require additional cognitive resources, potentially affecting comprehension and speed.

**4. Implications for Language Learning**  
The use of interlinear text has implications for language learning, as it may facilitate understanding by allowing learners to see direct translations alongside original text. However, the effectiveness may depend on factors like the reader's familiarity with the languages involved and their reading skills[3]. Eye tracking could be employed to further explore how this format influences learning outcomes.

## Conclusion

While direct research specifically focused on interlinear text is sparse, existing studies on eye movements during reading provide valuable insights into how different formats can affect cognitive processing. Future research could benefit from applying eye tracking to explicitly examine interlinear text's impact on reading efficiency and comprehension across various languages. This approach would enhance our understanding of how learners interact with bilingual texts and inform best practices in language education.

Citations:
[1] https://lt.cityu.edu.hk/dec/lt-repo/201617/dec-201617-tpg-mals-LT6580-ddhuang6.pdf
[2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9896260/
[3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10741511/
[4] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/eye-movement-during-reading-andrew-johnson
[5] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/24281505_Eye_movements_when_reading_text_messaging
[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0024384123001444
[7] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/An-eye-tracking-study-of-how-font-size-and-type-Beymer-Russell/501066ccf251484eabff32fb1d5dd93faac5716d
[8] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299599157_Relation_between_Reading_Speed_Eye_Movements_and_Line_Length_in_Japanese_Electronic_Text_Reader

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Related
How does interlinear text affect reading speed and comprehension
Are there specific eye movement patterns associated with interlinear text
What are the cognitive processes involved in reading interlinear text
How does interlinear text compare to traditional bilingual texts in terms of readability
What are the benefits of using interlinear text for language learners

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Citation and abstract for above image.

Hyrskykari, Aulikki & Majaranta, Päivi & Räihä, Kari-Jouko. (2005). From gaze control to attentive interfaces. Interactive applications that make use of eye tracking have traditionally been based on command-and-control. Applications that make more subtle use of eye gaze have recently become increasingly popular in the domain of attentive interfaces that adapt their behaviour based on the visual attention of the user. We provide a review of the main systems and application domains where this genre of interfaces has been used. (Accessed, Research Gate,https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228374956_From_gaze_control_to_attentive_interfaces, 27.11.24.)

Seeming hybrid

A seeming hybrid of interlinear translation would be, for example, hypertext. This is a natural extension of the idea of immediate view of what the source language conveys. 

The hyperlink is the essence of hypertext, and from the beginning of its invention by Tim Berners-Lee, we had online and off- documents linked to quick explication, among other uses. 

About fifteen or more years ago we saw the introduction of tooltips where when the cursor/mouse pointer hovered over something so-linked with this feature, we immediately got information built into the tip code. 

Now, at least for Google's Chrome, there is an extension with the transparent name of MouseTooltipTranslator. The tooltip now links not to the information built into the tip but to a service to give content-context specific translations.

Below is what it looks like . . . works like any tooltip but the info provided is word, phrase, sentence and more translation into the document reader's chosen target language.

This certainly accomplishes the functionality of interlinear translation displays, and it may be preferable for some who want either just what-it-means as well as those interested in the map to the source for text analysis, language learning, etc.

Word-for-word translation display

Here is an example of a word-for-word translation display. It is the (maligned) classic; it ignores context and other text attributes (e.g., correct word order in the target) in revealing the literal meaning of words, sometimes phrases. 

The reader may have to work hard at making sense of the target language, let alone how the source conveys its meaning to a source language speaker. However, this display has the advantage of almost precise mapping of the target to the source.

And the target language in this example is __________?

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What they found in our own branch of the
Quello che hanno trovato nel nostro ramo dell'

evolutionary tree came as a shock—the complete
albero evolutivo è stato uno shock—il completo

opposite of a pattern found in other vertebrates.
opposto di un modello riscontrato in altri vertebrati.

For Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and other vertebrate
Per Australopithecus, Paranthropus, e altri gruppi di vertebrati,

groups, as the number of species in a group
quando il numero di specie in un gruppo

went up, competition increased, and the rate
aumentava, la competizione cresceva, e il tasso

of forming new species slowed down.
di formazione di nuove specie rallentava.

In Homo, as the number of species went up,
Nel genere Homo, con l'aumento delle specie,

competition increased, and the rate of forming
la competizione cresceva e il tasso di formazione

new species got even faster.
di nuove specie accelerava ulteriormente.

The results, published in the journal Nature
I risultati, pubblicati nella rivista Nature

Ecology & Evolution, challenge previously held beliefs
Ecology & Evolution, sfidano le convinzioni precedenti

about the history of our species, and raise new
sulla storia della nostra specie e sollevano nuove

questions about how competition formed us into
domande su come la competizione ci abbia formato

the species we are today.
nella specie che siamo oggi.

GlossySnake

Github has a number of projects categorized as interlinear. Do a search and see what comes your way.

Meanwhile . . . 

This is an ambitious project which promises(?) a sophisticated interlinear translation web application.

https://glossysnake.com/

The project repository is here.

https://github.com/parkchamchi/GlossySnake

The readme in the repository is a nice discussion of all matters interlinear.

References include the Hamilton method of teaching languages. 

See https://theamericanscholar.org/the-new-old-way-of-learning-languages/

for some background on this and related methods.

Quick and clean

Want to have an interlinear translation of text on a web page? Here is a sample page for this source.*

https://slowgerman.com/2024/10/29/kurt-eisner-bayerns-erster-ministerpraesident/

Here is the interlinear English translation of text on that page. Magic!

Sample from slowgerman.com.

How you ask? Add the ImTranslator extension to your browser (e.g., Chrome or Firefox). Select the text on a source language page and invoke the extension for an interlinear view (right mouse click, for example). Couldn't be simpler.

__________

* Slow German as a site and service--highly professional and recommended.

Sample paragraph-by-paragraph display

Here's an example of a paragraph-by-paragraph translation from English to German.

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*What they found in our own branch of the evolutionary tree came as a shock—the complete opposite of a pattern found in other vertebrates. For Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and other vertebrate groups, as the number of species in a group went up, competition increased, and the rate of forming new species slowed down. In Homo, as the number of species went up, competition increased, and the rate of forming new species got even faster. The results, published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, challenge previously held beliefs about the history of our species, and raise new questions about how competition formed us into the species we are today.*

Was sie in unserem eigenen Zweig des evolutionären Stammbaums fanden, kam als Schock – das komplette Gegenteil eines Musters, das bei anderen Wirbeltieren gefunden wurde. Bei Australopithecus, Paranthropus und anderen Wirbeltiergruppen stieg mit der Zunahme der Artenzahl in einer Gruppe die Konkurrenz, und die Rate der Bildung neuer Arten verlangsamte sich. Bei Homo hingegen stieg mit der Zunahme der Artenzahl die Konkurrenz, und die Rate der Bildung neuer Arten wurde sogar noch schneller. Die Ergebnisse, die in der Fachzeitschrift Nature Ecology & Evolution veröffentlicht wurden, stellen bisherige Überzeugungen über die Geschichte unserer Spezies in Frage und werfen neue Fragen darüber auf, wie Konkurrenz uns zu der Spezies geformt hat, die wir heute sind.

*For the study, van Holstein gathered location and carbon dating information for fossils from 17 hominin species, then used that data to model when a species originated, how long it existed for, and when it disappeared. Next, she ran a mathematical model to calculate and compare how competition—that is, having more than one species in the same location at the same time competing for the same resources—affected speciation and extinction of the three hominin subgroups.*

Für die Studie sammelte van Holstein Standort- und Kohlenstoffdatierungsinformationen für Fossilien von 17 Hominidenarten und verwendete diese Daten dann, um zu modellieren, wann eine Art entstand, wie lange sie existierte und wann sie verschwand. Anschließend führte sie ein mathematisches Modell durch, um zu berechnen und zu vergleichen, wie sich Konkurrenz – das heißt, mehr als eine Art zur gleichen Zeit am selben Ort, die um die gleichen Ressourcen konkurriert – auf die Artbildung und das Aussterben der drei Hominidenuntergruppen auswirkte.

Additional notes:
1. The scientific terms "Australopithecus," "Paranthropus," and "Homo" are kept in their original Latin forms, as these are universally used scientific names.
2. "Hominin" is translated as "Hominiden" in German, which is the accepted scientific term.
3. "Nature Ecology & Evolution" is kept in English as it's the name of the journal.
4. "van Holstein" is kept as is, assuming it's a proper name.
5. The German translation maintains the scientific tone and complexity of the original text, suitable for an educated German-speaking audience.

Sample in-line display

Here's an example of an in-line translation from English to Spanish.

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*Over* (Durante) *the past* (los últimos) *15 years* (15 años), *many more* (muchos más) *hominin* (homínidos) *fossils* (fósiles) *and* (y) *species* (especies) *have been discovered* (han sido descubiertos), *so* (así que) *van Holstein* (van Holstein) *finally* (finalmente) *had the chance* (tuvo la oportunidad) *to investigate* (de investigar) *her lingering question* (su pregunta persistente). *Using* (Utilizando) *computer software* (software informático) *and* (y) *mathematical models* (modelos matemáticos), *she* (ella) *and* (y) *evolutionary anthropologist* (antropólogo evolutivo) *Robert Foley* (Robert Foley) *analyzed* (analizaron) *a wealth* (una gran cantidad) *of* (de) *fossil data* (datos fósiles) *to explore* (para explorar) *competition* (la competencia) *in* (en) *hominin evolution* (la evolución de los homínidos). *They focused on* (Se centraron en) *three subgroups* (tres subgrupos) *of* (de) *hominins* (homínidos): *the small-brained* (los de cerebro pequeño), *ape-like* (similares a los simios) *Australopithecus* (Australopithecus), *the huge-headed* (los de cabeza enorme) *Paranthropus* (Paranthropus), *and* (y) *our own group* (nuestro propio grupo), *Homo* (Homo).

Additional notes:
1. The term "hominin" is translated as "homínido" in Spanish, which is the accepted scientific term.
2. "Van Holstein" is kept as is, as it's likely a proper name.
3. "Australopithecus," "Paranthropus," and "Homo" are maintained in their original Latin forms, as these are universally used scientific names.
4. The phrase "huge-headed" is translated as "de cabeza enorme" to maintain the colloquial tone while accurately describing the characteristic.

Sample interlinear, line by line

 

This is a sample of an interlinear translation, line by line, produced by an AI engine, English to Russian. Have a look, and for those conversant, a closer look.

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 *What they found in our own branch of the evolutionary tree*  
**Что они нашли в нашей собственной ветви эволюционного дерева**  

*came as a shock—the complete opposite of a pattern found*  
**оказалось шоком—полной противоположностью закономерности, найденной**  

*in other vertebrates.*  
**у других позвоночных.**  

*For Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and other vertebrate groups, as the number of*  
**Для австралопитеков, парантропов и других групп позвоночных, по мере того как количество**  

*species in a group went up, competition increased, and the rate*  
**видов в группе увеличивалось, конкуренция возрастала, а скорость**  

*of forming new species slowed down.*  
**формирования новых видов замедлялась.**  

*In Homo, as the number of species went up, competition*  
**У гоминид, по мере увеличения количества видов, конкуренция**  

*increased, and the rate of forming new species got even faster.*  
**возрастала, и скорость формирования новых видов становилась еще выше.**  

*The results, published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution,*  
**Результаты, опубликованные в журнале Nature Ecology & Evolution,**  

*challenge previously held beliefs about the history of our species,*  
**ставят под сомнение ранее существовавшие представления об истории нашего вида,**  

*and raise new questions about how competition formed us into the*  
**и поднимают новые вопросы о том, как конкуренция сформировала нас в**  

*species we are today.*  
**тот вид, который мы представляем собой сегодня.**  

### Additional Comments
The context of the original English text deals with the evolutionary history and dynamics of species formation, particularly in hominids and related groups. The translation retains this scientific tone and terminology in Russian, while staying true to the original structure.

About

Interlinear Dot World collects tools and resources for alt-translation displays--alternatives to the side-by-side convention used both online and in print. This most common display choice for translation has its place for all manner of uses, and enthusiasts and apologists for it are welcome to review, comment, and contribute regarding the ideas and solutions contained or linked from here.

Interlinear displays are "for the rest of us," neither textual-linguistic experts or scholars nor the everyday expedite-it minded--"just tell me what it means, please." Tools and resources at or near the ends of this spectrum (from expert to the expeditious) are not included. For example, look elsewhere if your interest is gloss or glossary as it relates to a translation, software solutions for professionals, quick tool-tip translations of words/phrases, etc.

Interlinear is a general term for displays of a source language text  followed (in-line or above or below) by its translation into a target language. Eye movement from source to target and vice versa quickly discloses word, phrase, sentence, and paragraph mapping between source and target. That simple change in eye movement and close meaning matching may be more convenient and effective in finding what one is looking for than what is required by a side-by-side display.

Perhaps the most common understanding of interlinear is line by line and word-for-word translation, and it is these which take up most of the room provided by this conversation space, that is, the source text followed below by its translation.

 

Tools and resources gathered here are not the universe of same, just those that seem current and readily useful and accessible. Suggestions for additions are welcome, which indicates the nature of this blog, a personal if limited (e.g., opinionated, not fully informed, etc.) point of view.

"For the rest of us" refers to those, a minority, who enjoy and feel satisfaction by decoding other worlds up close and what they reveal to us about language and culture, our own and that of others.

 

May better understandings come about through the mutual embrace of people through this and your own choice of means.

 

Revised 08.01.25