SOFIA -- A Bulgarian engineer says he has discovered a method of translating speech in real time which will allow people speaking different languages to communicate by telephone and Internet.

Koitcho Mitev, from Russe in northern Bulgaria, discovered a numerical code algorithm that he says "translates whole thoughts formulated into phrases", and patented the process last week.

According to Mitev's system, all the words of each language to be translated are coded into verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives etc.

by a computer.

Having differentiated between different types of words, the computer is able to analyze the syntax of the phrase and formulate the thought expressed in another language.

In order to do this it first determines which word is the verb, then the subject and then other parts of the phrase before translating the idea into another language's grammar, Mitev told AFP.

The system allows "free communication, not just by telephone and Internet, but also by Internet to telephone and vice-versa," said Mitev.

"It means that everyone can read any Internet site no matter which language it is in," he added.

"The system is based on the idea that all languages and dialects are 'equal'. It allows mankind to preserve all its linguistic richness," Mitev explained.

He is looking for financial backing to produce a prototype system in several languages. A pilot project in three or four languages with a limited number of words would cost 250,000 to 280,000 euros (dollars), Mitev estimates.

To apply the method to all European languages, he believes he would need investments worth 180 to 200 million euros.

Mitev, 55, is the former director of a large state construction firm. After developing several technical innovations, he formed his own consultation, marketing and invention business following the fall of communism.

The engineer developed his invention with the aid of his family.

His 27-year-old son has a master's degree in management, his Slovakian wife is an industrial building draughtsman, and his daughter is an engineer and economist living in Slovakia.

Mitev also had the "moral support" of computing engineer angel Smrikarov, joint rector of the University of Russe. "Mitev's method will transform our ideas about communications," said Smrikarov, but added: "Very large investments will be necessary, not just to develop the software, but also to adapt hardware."

Bulgaria's patents office patented Mitev's system on October 4, 2002. It is to be presented to the country's scientific community at a scientists' congress at Russe University on October 31 and November 1.