当代中国语言产业发展的三次浪潮

Three Waves of Development in China's Language Industry

中国语言产业的历史进程可概括为三次浪潮:第一波约始于1990年,是传统语言产业的快速增长期;第二波约始于2000年,是语言信息技术产业的兴盛期;第三波约始于2010年,是"语言信息技术平台(互联网、智能手机、语言智能)+语言产业"的发展期。三次浪潮前后呼应、彼此融合,每一波发展都以某种方式汇入新的浪潮之中。第一次浪潮主要由社会开放所致,第二、三次浪潮则为语言信息技术革命所引领。未来语言产业将是"人工语言智能+语言产业"的时代。

China's Language Industry has witnessed three waves of development in the past three decades. The fi rst wave appeared in around 1990, a time when the traditional Language Industry experienced a rapid expansion. The second wave started in around 2000, a time often seen as the rise of Language Information Industry. The third wave arrived in around 2010, a period when 'language information technology platforms'(e.g., internet, cell phones and language intelligence) became a major media for press, education and speech synthesis. The three waves are three continuous developmental phases, showing the upgrading trajectory of the language industry in China. With regard to the driving forces of such developments, this paper contends that the fi rst wave can be attributed to the opening up of the Chinese society, while the second and the third waves are the results of the revolution of Language Information Technology. It is predicted that the next phase in China will be 'Artifi cial Intelligence plus Language Industry'.