[Rhodes22-list] need help

[Gardner, Douglas (LNG-DAY)]

The cautions are very well founded.  Automated translation is full of
errors.

However, you might be surprised how well the automated tools actually work
with simple text in a one-way translation from one latin based language to
another.  Where you get the most flagrant problems are in back translation
(small errors are greatly magnified when you try to translate it back) and
into languages with dissimilar origins.

Given that, you wouldn't want to rely on it for mission critical or safety
related communication.  But, for helping to facilitate routine communication
it'd beat the hell out of nothing.

One approach you might use with the tools would be to do the following:
1. Translate a chunk of text.

2. Have the other person rephrase it into good grammer in their own language
and translate it back.  If the back translation looks good, then you can be
reasonably sure they got it. If the back translation doesn't work, then
rephrase your original text and try again.





-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]On Behalf Of Mark Kaynor
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 1:51 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] need help


Stan,

I have to second Herb's suggestion. One of the things I do with my geek
friends send a short paragraph to Babelfish, translate it to Korean and back
to English. It can get pretty funny. Here's an example from my 1988 Rhodes
manual:

Original:

"So why the instruction sheet? First, there are some weather related, or
buyer initiated, or other reasonable causes for having a boat package picked
up or delivered, unopened. And Second, for your second season you may have
to be on your own."

To Korean and back:

"It is like this the instruction manual why? First, or the purchase which is
drafted it sleeps and there is some weather which it relates all, or is
hazard the cause which is different fit becomes, is not opened to the public
a boat packing well. And at second, must be your oneself whom your 2nd
seasonal datum it spreads out because it does not know."


Okay. So the whole Korean thing may be a bit over the top. For a sanity
check, let's see what happens if we translate the same text Spanish and
back:

"So why the instruction leaf? First, there are a little related time, or
initiated buyer, or other reasonable causes to have a package of the boat
they took or they gave, nonopen. And secondly, because his second station
you can have to be in his own."

As you can see, these tools are pretty cool, but they've got still got a way
to go. However, I believe the current administration uses them extensively
for their foreign policy discussions.....<g>

Mark Kaynor




-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]On Behalf Of Herb Parsons
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 1:08 PM
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Cc: stan
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] need help


Stan,

I'm a computer professional, and I would recommend against doing this this
way. The problem is that computers are too literal, and don't have the
"human common sense" of a person. I would strongly recommend you find a
person who is fluent in Spanish (Mexican Spanish), and have them do this for
you on an as-needed basis.

I say this, because I see too many computer-related things that are
improperly translated. It's funny when you read an instruction manual that
states "to modify the surface intersection" instead of "to modify the
interface". However, what is humorous in a manual might be expensive,
tragic, or both, when applied to construction of boats.

I just have this picture of misunderstanding a teak accessory on the deck,
and ending up with a teak deck instead.

>>> stan<stan at rhodes22.com> 07/07 11:02 AM >>>
    since everyone on this list knows more about computers than we at GBI
do, thought I should ask:

we are insourcing and now have three associates from various countries South
of the border and have to communicate with them so they stop building used
Macgregors and start building used Rhodes.

is there any program out there that we can purchase where we can type in
what we want to say in English and get it to print out in Spanish  ... and
if so, who would sell it ??

thanks for any input - we  have all the Macs we need for now.

stan/gbi.
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