Kudos to computerized translations, but they still need us!
I remember the good old days when "I can" was translated in French by "Je boite de converse"... We are far away from these mishaps, or are we, really?
Can we rely 100% on machine translations to capture the sense of our words?
I conducted a bold experiment, I translated my welcome page text with Google Translate and Reverso first in French and then back to English.
Here are the results:
Can we rely 100% on machine translations to capture the sense of our words?
I conducted a bold experiment, I translated my welcome page text with Google Translate and Reverso first in French and then back to English.
Here are the results:
Google Translate
The priorities of priorities ... Have a coffee!
This is the site of my writer, or rather one of them. Hopefully my personality would emerge here and you'll have to capture the atmosphere of my books. It is also home to my translator offers. I'll give you a run through my face, as if creating a Sim if you want ... Nah! Just kidding! Enter and enjoy ... Oh! And do not spill the coffee! |
Reverso
The priorities of the priorities... Seize a coffee!
This is the Web site of my author, or rather one of them. We hope that my personality will perspire (transpire) here and you will arrive to seize the atmosphere of my books (pounds). This is also at home for the offers of my translator. I shall give you a past by running (roaming) my lines (features), as if the creation of Sim if you will make (will) (be)... Nah! Just puerility! Enter and to like (love) (enjoy of)... Oh! And do not knock down the coffee! |
Why is this enlightening? In the past, I have landed a job as proof-reader for an American politician, whose staff had used machines to translate their content. Without the ability to check the result, they did actually publish the "Je boite de conserve" example I gave earlier.
I commend machine translations, it is very helpful for me at any time while I browse the web and I want to get the diagonal meaning of a page I am reading in a foreign language.
However, my visitors must have basic knowledge of the target language in order to not wet their pants when reading that I will "give you a run through my face" (yuk!) or "I shall give you a past by running my lines," whatever that means.
All jokes aside, one thing I do not want is to have a translated page that states "This is the website of my author," when I am actually presenting myself to potential customers.
See how we, humans, do it, with our flaws, still beautiful.
I commend machine translations, it is very helpful for me at any time while I browse the web and I want to get the diagonal meaning of a page I am reading in a foreign language.
However, my visitors must have basic knowledge of the target language in order to not wet their pants when reading that I will "give you a run through my face" (yuk!) or "I shall give you a past by running my lines," whatever that means.
All jokes aside, one thing I do not want is to have a translated page that states "This is the website of my author," when I am actually presenting myself to potential customers.
See how we, humans, do it, with our flaws, still beautiful.