NYC-ROOTS-L Archives

From: "Linda Hindman" <>
Subject: [NYC] Use of translation programs
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 16:24:13 -0500

Fellow Listers - Come words of caution and advice. I have just
spent the last hour writing a 6 sentence letter in Italian using the
translator program of Microsoft Office Update, url
http://officeupdate.lhsl.com/ which was recommended on this list.
Please, if you use one of these translators, be sure to reenter the
Italian sentence and have it translated back into English.
My first few attempts were translated back into English and was the
funniest thing I ever read. It almost made no sense to what I orginally
said. For example, the word "inform" in English translated to "informi"
in Italian, but when it translated back into English it came out
"shapeless" so my sentence ended up "Please shapeless me the
cost" I finally resorted to the KISS method (Keep It Simple Stupid)
and translated one sentence at a time until I was somewhat
satisfiedwith the results. For example, here is one sentence I wanted
to say, the Italian translation, and the way it ended up:
Please tell me the cost and I will pay for the copies. (I gave up on
"inform me")
Per favore mi dica il costo ed io pagare per le copie.
Please tells me the cost and me to pay for the copies.
That one simple sentence took about 20 minutes and about 5 tries.
So if you use a translator, be sure to have it translated back to you.
Try a mock letter just for fun and see what happens, for a good laugh.
Linda Hindman

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• [NYC] Use of translation programs by "Linda Hindman" <>