Computer-aided writing system and method with cross-language writing wizard

A computer-based method for providing assistance to a speaker of a second language in preparing written text in a first language, the method comprising:

• displaying, via a user interface, character strings in a first language together with at least one character string of a second language as the user enters the character strings;
• identifying at least one character string in the first language corresponding in meaning to the character string of the second language;
• converting the character string of the second language to an other character string of the first language;
• and
• replacing the character string of the second language with said other character string of the first language in the user interface.

A method comprising:

• receiving non-native words of a non-native language and at least one native word of a native language, the native word being received in a first form of the native language;
• translating the native word from its first form to at least one native word of a second form;
• and
• translating the native word of the second form to at least one non-native word.

A method comprising:

• enabling a user to enter non-native words of a non-native language and a phonetic text string of a native language;
• displaying the non-native words and the phonetic text string within a common entry line;
• translating the phonetic text string to at least one native word of the native language;
• determining possible non-native word candidates from the native word of the native language;
• generating first probabilities associated with the non-native word candidates that indicate how likely individual non-native word candidates were intended by the user given the context established by previously entered non-native words;
• generating second probabilities associated with the non-native word candidates that indicate how likely the native word was intended given individual non-native word candidates;
• deriving a most probable non-native word from among the non-native word candidates based on the first and second probabilities;
• and
• translating the native word to the most probable non-native word.

A cross-language input user interface for providing assistance to a non-native speaker in preparing written text in a native language, comprising:

• a line-based entry area;
• non-native text displayed within the line-based entry area;
• native text displayed together with the non-native text within the line-based entry area;
• indication of the native text to facilitate replacement with non-native text corresponding in meaning to the native next;
• and
• converted non-native text, converted from the native text, substituted for the native text within the line-based entry area.

A cross-language input user interface for providing assistance to a speaker of a second language In preparing written text in a first language, comprising:

• an entry area that accepts first words written in a first language and at least one second word written in a second language;
• indication of the second word to facilitate replacement with at least one first word in the first language corresponding in meaning to the second word in the second language;
• and
• a candidate list of first words that are possible translations from the second word.

A cross-language writing architecture for providing assistance to a non-native sneaker in preparing written text in a native language, comprising;

• a user interface to enable a user, who is accustomed to a native language, to:
• enter a native word in the native language;
• recognize entry of the native word;
• provide at least one non-native word corresponding in meaning to the native word;
• enter non-native words from a non-native language;
• and
• a spelling tool to assist the user with correct entry of the non-native words.

A cross-language writing architecture comprising:

• a user interface to enable entry of English words together with Chinese Pinyin;
• a spelling tool to translate the Chinese Pinyin to one or more Chinese words, the spelling tool being further configured to translate the Chinese words to one or more English words that may be substituted for the Chinese Pinyin;
• and
• a sentence recommendation tool, invokable by a user, to offer pairs of corresponding sentences written in English and Chinese to demonstrate how an English word is used in a sentence.

One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions that, when executed on a processor, direct a computer to:

• enable entry of English words and Chinese Pinyin;
• translate the Chinese Pinyin to at least one Chinese word;
• determine possible English word candidates from the Chinese word;
• generate first probabilities associated with the English word candidates that indicate how likely each of the English word candidates was intended given previously entered English words;
• generate second probabilities associated with the English word candidates that indicate how likely the Chinese word was intended given each of the English word candidates;
• derive a most probable English word from among the English word candidates based on the first and second probabilities;
• and
• translate the Chinese word to the most probable English word.