Abstract: A translating facsimile machine includes a facsimile input receiver which feeds a facsimile input signal representative of a source language text to an optical character recognizer. The optical character recognizer converts the facsimile signal to a source natural language text signal which is then tested in a source language recognizer and, if recognized, is then processed by a translator which converts the source natural language signal to a target natural language signal. An output device such as a printer receives the target natural language signal and outputs it to a roll of paper or the like.