[LINK] Translation tool

[Kim Holburn]

That's fun.  Unfortunately "the spirit is willing" is a stock  
expression that has been used before as a famous benchmark of  
translation software.  It's probably hard coded as a special  
expression now.  Maybe they have lots of sayings and quotes in there.

I seem to remember a few years ago someone had a website which would  
translate an expression into some language using an on-line translator  
and then back again several times.  Ahh yes:
http://tashian.com/multibabel/



Here's a not so well known quote:
No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the  
enemy until it is ripe for execution

Google translator:
English->Chinese:
没有企业就更有可能取得成功不止一个隐藏的敌人，直 
到它执行的时机已经成熟
English->Chinese->English:
Enterprises are more likely to not succeed more than one hidden enemy,  
until it the time is ripe for the implementation of
	
English->Russian:
Нет предприятие больше шансов на  
успех, чем один скрыл от врага, пока не  
созрела для исполнения
English->Russian->English:
There is a greater chance of success than one concealed from the  
enemy, is not yet ripe for execution

Babelfish:
English->Chinese:
企业比对敌人隐瞒的一个不是可能成功，直到它为施行 
是成熟的
English->Chinese->English:
The enterprise compared to which conceals to the enemy is not possibly  
succeeds, until it for the execution is mature

English->Russian:
Никакое предпринимательство более не  
правоподобно для того чтобы преуспеть  
чем одно скрынное от противника до тех  
пор пока оно не будет зрело для  
исполнения
English->Russian->English:
Any enterprise more not likely in order to succeed than one [skrynnoe]  
from the enemy as long as it will not ripe for the performance


Not so great either of them.

On 2009/Jul/20, at 10:42 AM, Rick Welykochy wrote:

> stephen at melbpc.org.au wrote:
>
>> In my experience, for instant language translation .. simply the  
>> best:
>> http://translate.google.com
>
> Babelfish predates google trans by many years. Not as many languages  
> are
> supported, but another fine resource.
>
> <http://babelfish.yahoo.com/>
>
> Babelfish was acquired from the (nearly dead?) Alta vista by Yahoo  
> about
> a year ago, iirc.
>
> I agree with Stephen that the offering from Google is better. It
> seems to recognise idioms, which babelfish has trouble with.
>
> e.g.
>
>   French:              que je suis fatigue
>   English:             I am so tired
>
>   Babelfish:           that I am tiredness
>   Google translate:    I'm tired
>
> e.g. PG 13 RATING WARNING!
>
>   Spanish:             hijo de puta
>   English:             son of a bitch
>
>   Babelfish:           son of puta
>   Google translate:    motherf***er
>
> I think the latter Google translation is a bit too idiomatic !
>
> Aside: Often the first things one learns "in the wild" with native
> speakers are idiomatic expressions and cuss words. These easily become
> part of one's acquired lingo, sans any thought to derivation or proper
> usage.
>
> A vigorous application is to translate from English to another
> language and back again, comparing the original to the final result.
>
>   English:              the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
>   Babelfish Russian:    дух охотно готов но  
> плоть слаба
>   Google Russian:       Дух бодр, но плоть слаба
>
> and back again
>
>   Babelfish English:    spirit is willingly ready but flesh it is weak
>   Google English:       the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
>
>
> and another ...
>
>   English:              time flies like an arrow
>   Babelfish Russian:    время летит как стрелка
>   Google Russian:       Время летит, как стрелка
>
> and back again
>
>   Babelfish English:    time flies as the pointer
>   Google translate:     time flies like an arrow
>
> BTW: "time flies like an arrow" has at least completely three
> different interpretations in English. Without context it
> is very difficult to translate this phrase accurately and
> maintain the meaning, e.g. the verb can be one of "time",
> "flies" and "like" and subject one of "you", "time" and
> "flies" respectively.
>
>
> cheers
> rickw
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> _________________________________
> Rick Welykochy || Praxis Services
>
> We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?
>      -- Lee Iacocca
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-- 
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
Ph: +39 06 855 4294  M: +39 3494957443
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