Just for the fun of it all:
A while back, the local radio station over here, decided to test the
reliability of the electronic translator of Google. The idea went like this.
If the translator is all reliable, you should be able to enter a text in
one language,have it translated into another, and then reverse the
translation back to the original language. The end result, should then
be identical with the originally entered text. The results can be rather
interesting. try for yourself. Use, for instance, the lyrics of a Kids
Song, entered in English, and try translate it into any of the supported
languages. Then, have it translated from there, back into English, and
see what you get.
Now, if you ain't up for all that work, here I am going to provide you
some examples. One translation in each paragraph below.
We first will start out with the old country lyrics, of the Jim Reeves
song, entitled "I love you because". Let's enter the original English
text, translate it into German, and then revert it into English. Will we
get a perfect copy of the original text?
Original English Text:
I love you because you're understanding, Every single thing I try to do.
You're always there to lend a helping hand, dear; but most of all I love
you 'cause you're you. No matter what the world may say about me, I know
your love will always see me through. I love you for a hundred thousand
reasons, but most of all I love you 'cause you're you.
German translation:
Ich liebe dich, weil Sie das Verständnis sind, jedes einzelne Ding, was
ich versuche zu tun. Dort sind Sie immer eine helfende Hand, meine Liebe
zu verleihen; aber vor allem ich liebe dich, weil du du bist. Egal was
die Welt über mich sagen kann weiß ich, dass deine Liebe mich immer
sehen werden, durch. Ich liebe dich für hundert Tausend Gründe, aber vor
allem ich liebe dich, weil du du bist.
German to English translation:
I love you because you are the understanding to do every single thing,
what I'm trying. There are always a helping hand, to give my love; but
above all I love you 'cause you're you. No matter what the world about
me say I that your love will always see me can be white. I love you for
a hundred thousand reasons, but above all I love you 'cause you're you.
OK, not exactly what we originally entered, or what do you think? A
translation you wanted for your professional work?
Now let's try with a joke. We are going to test it on a few languages.
In each case, we will enter the original 'proper' english version,
translate it into a given language, and then have it come back to the
English language. Be prepared, and pay close attention to the returned
English version. See if it even will hold the same meaning, in all the
cases. Ready? ; OK; here we go!
Original English Version:
One morning the lion woke up, really depressed and down-hearted. He
decided to go for a walk in the jungle. After a while, he met the
elephant. "Tell me, you big fleshy elephant," he muttered, 'who' is the
most important animal in this jungle? The elephant backed up a few steps
and had a long glance at the lion. Then he stepped forward, lifted up
the lion with his strong trunk, and shook him violently back and forth
several times - before he threw him way over his shoulder. The lion flew
fifty feet backward and landed in the dust with a thud. He sat up
dizzily, brushed his fur and with tears in his voice, yelled at the
elephant: "you don't have to act that rudely - just because you didn't
know the answer.... »
Translate it into Spanish:
Una mañana el León se despertó, realmente deprimido y abajo de corazón.
Decidió dar un paseo en la selva. Después de un rato, se encontró con el
elefante. ¿Dígame, usted carnoso elefante grande,"él murmuró, 'quién' es
el animal más importante en esta selva? El elefante había respaldado a
pocos pasos y tenía una larga mirada al León. Luego se adelantó, levantó
el León con su tronco fuerte y lo sacudió violentamente hacia adelante y
hacia atrás varias veces - antes de que él lo arrojó forma encima de su
hombro. El León voló cincuenta pies hacia atrás y aterrizados en el
polvo con un ruido sordo. Él incorporó vertiginosamente, cepillado de su
pelaje y con lágrimas en su voz, gritó el elefante: "usted no tiene que
actuar rudamente - sólo porque usted no sabe la respuesta... »
Take it back to English:
One morning the lion woke up, really depressed and down heart. He
decided to take a walk in the jungle. After a while, met with the
elephant. 'Tell me, you meaty big elephant, "he murmured, who' is the
most important animal in this jungle? The elephant had backed up a few
steps and had a long look at the lion. Then came, rose the lion with its
strong trunk and shook it violently back and forth several times - until
he threw it over his shoulder shape. The lion flew fifty feet back and
landed in the dust with a thud. He added, brushing of his coat and with
tears in his voice, cried the elephant: "you don't have to act rudely -
just because you don't know the answer... »
Take the original English text, and have it translated into Finish:
Eräänä aamuna leijona heräsin, todella masentunut ja alas huoleton. Hän
päätti mennä kävelylle viidakossa. Hetken hän tapasi elefantti. "Kerro
minulle sinun mehevä Perhosnapit," hän mutisi, "kuka on tärkein eläin
äänekkään"? Norsu varmuuskopioidaan muutaman askeleen ja oli pitkä
vilkaista leijona. Sitten hän astui eteenpäin, kohotti leijona hänen
vahva runko ja ravisti häntä voimakkaasti edestakaisin useita kertoja -
ennen kuin hän heitti tapa olkansa yli. Leijona lensi viisikymmentä
metriä taaksepäin ja laskeutui pöly ja jysähtäen. Hän istui dizzily,
harjattu hänen Turkista ja kyyneleet hänen äänensä, huusi norsu:
"sinulla ei ole toimia joka tylysti - vain, koska et tiedä vastausta... »
And back to English:
One morning the lion woke up, really depressed and down-hearted. He
decided to go for a walk in the jungle. After a while he met up with the
elephant. "Please tell me your juicy Butterfly buttons," he muttered,
"who is the most important animal vocal"? The elephant backed up a few
steps and was long a sneak peek at the lion. Then he stepped forward,
held up the lion in his strong body and shook him back and forth several
times before he threw way over his shoulder. The lion flew fifty feet
back and landed on the dust and jysähtäen. He sat on the dizzily,
brushed his fur and with tears in his voice, calling out the elephant:
"you do not have a function which rudely-just because you do not know
the answer ... »
Hey! Where did the "Butterfly buttons" come from? And, what is that
"jysähtäen. " stuff all about? Besides, is this a translation for your
professional English literature?
Well, back to the original English version, and let's try it in German:
Eines morgens wachte der Löwe, wirklich deprimiert und unten Herz. Er
entschied sich für einen Spaziergang im Dschungel. Nach einer Weile traf
er die Elefanten. Murmelte "sagen Sie mir, Sie große fleischige
Elefant," er, "Wer das wichtigste Tier in diesem Dschungel ist"? Der
Elefant gesichert, ein paar Schritte und hatte einen langen Blick auf
den Löwen. Dann er trat vor, hob der Löwe mit seiner starken Stamm und
ihn heftig hin und her mehrmals -, schüttelte bevor er ihn warf Weg über
die Schulter.
Der Löwe flog fünfzig Fuß vorwärts und rückwärts in den Staub mit einem
Plumps landete. Er setzte sich benommen, sein Fell gebürstet und mit
Tränen in der Stimme, der Elefant schrie: "Sie haben nicht zu handeln,
die grob - nur weil Sie nicht die Antwort wissen... »
And, finally, let's have that back to English and see what happens:
One morning the lion woke up, really depressed and below heart. He opted
for a walk in the jungle. After a while, he met the elephants. Muttered
"you tell me, you big fleshy elephant," he, "Who is the most important
animal in this jungle"? The elephant backed up a few steps and had a
long look at the lion. Then he stepped forward, picked up the lion with
its strong master and him violently back and forth several times -
shaking way over his shoulder before he threw it.
The lion flew fifty feet forwards and backwards in the dust with a thud
landed. He sat down dazed, brushed his coat and with tears in his voice,
the elephant cried: "you have to act, not the coarse - just because you
know the answer..." »
Oops! First of all, the lion met with the Elephant, in the English
version. When coming back from german, it has changed to several
elephants. Next, it was the lion that - in the end - yelled at the
elephant; at least in the English version. But now, after having it
rounded Germany, it all the sudden looks like it was the elephant that
yelled. And lastly, did you notice the concluding phrase? In the
original text, it reads: "just because you didn't know the answer." In
the returned text, it has changed its meaning, and now reads: "just
because you DID know the answer." there is a difference between "DID",
and "DID NOT", ain't there?
After these simple tests, do your own funny playing. Promise you, you
might end up with rather laughable results. For the more eager ones
among you, may I suggest you try to translate into some less common
languages. Or, try to translate into things like Arabic, Chinese, or
Russian, which are rather differently in their grammar than the English.
Have a professional fun!
--
David
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