atinymonkey Posted September 23, 2003 Posted September 23, 2003 I found a site that helps illustrate the problems of translations across languages. I often find that people find it hard to conceive that there is rarely a piece of text that can be directly translated; it’s nice to have a demonstration. Plus it's funny! http://www.tashian.com/multibabel/ Original English Text: I know why the caged bird sings Translated to French: Je sais pourquoi l'oiseau mis en cage chante Translated back to English: I know why the bird put out of cage sings Translated to German: Ich weiß, warum der Vogel, der aus Rahmen heraus gesetzt wird, singt Translated back to English: I know, why the bird, which is set from frameworks, sings Translated to Italian: So, perchè l'uccello, che è regolato dalle strutture, canta Translated back to English: I know, why the bird, that it is regulated from the structures, sings Translated to Portuguese: Eu sei, porque o pássaro, que está regulado das estruturas, canta Translated back to English: I know, because the bird, that is regulated of the structures, sings Translated to Spanish: Sé, porque el pájaro, que se regula de las estructuras, canta Translated back to English: I know, because the bird, that regulates itself of the structures, sings
alt_f13 Posted September 24, 2003 Posted September 24, 2003 Originally posted by Zarkov We an the ether, our spin field are moving together!
Sayonara Posted September 24, 2003 Posted September 24, 2003 Maybe if we put Zarkov's theories through 30 translators or so, they will turn out to be quantum theory.
atinymonkey Posted September 24, 2003 Author Posted September 24, 2003 Translated back to English: He to the ether, our field of the return that we obtained later Maybe not then
Sayonara Posted September 24, 2003 Posted September 24, 2003 Another 29 goes yet before it makes any sense!
atinymonkey Posted September 24, 2003 Author Posted September 24, 2003 Originally posted by Zarkov The Egyptian pyramids were machines designed to produce clean non toxic, disease free water. The technology to achieve this feat, was remarkable to say the least. Water, the precious substance on this planet, could only ensure survival if it was sacred, that is not drawn from ground waters, and that included the Nile ! Translated back to English: The Egyptian determined pyramid age with them with the white woman Mrs. /negra the will, from that of the point, which had been first, approached sketch, payment not with the product, the lighting of the poison, which is cleaned above for the illness, if releases of the payment of the Aerosoles. Technology with this compire with this large activity was remarkable to indicate to people under the age. If it could only guarantee polverizzasse it, the priceless substance in this planet, surviving, if it were crowned, from this it not you to a factory of Unterbodenwasser and these devices Nile the Willebullonatura! Ah, ah, ah, a, Arrrrrggggggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1112
blike Posted September 24, 2003 Posted September 24, 2003 lol, that makes about as much sense as the original
YT2095 Posted September 24, 2003 Posted September 24, 2003 heheheheh, does it do Russian as well? try: Ya znau, potomu chto ptitsa tot regulirovat cebya ot stroyeniye, pet. that starts where you left off with: ""I know, because the bird, that regulates itself of the structures, sings"" that`s how I would say that sentence in Russian (using English letters), see what it says when you run that one through the translator
atinymonkey Posted September 24, 2003 Author Posted September 24, 2003 ß çíàþ, ïîòîìó ÷òî ïòèöà, êîòîðàÿ ðåãóëèðóåò ñåáÿ ñòðóêòóð, ïîåò That's the translation of characters from this site:- http://translation2.paralink.com/ No idea what the translation matrix is, but it comes out as:- I know, because a bird who adjusts itself of structures, sing
atinymonkey Posted September 24, 2003 Author Posted September 24, 2003 ß çíàþ, ïîòîìó ÷òî ïòèöà, êîòîðàÿ ðåãóëèðóåò ñåáÿ ñòðóêòóð, ïîåò Oh, I give in. I know what it looked like anyhow. And I can't attach images to a thread, probably a decision on the back of the Peter Dunn imagery etc.
NavajoEverclear Posted September 25, 2003 Posted September 25, 2003 Dude yeah about people not understanding problems in translation is kind of dumb (not their fault really though, that they never thought of it that way, i mean i don't want to be rude to them), maybe dumb for me to say why, but i will. People who do not understand the difficulties of translation are not considering the origins of language. Language is not an inherent thing imbedded in ones mind, it must start from some foundation, different cultures will build it different ways, and especially varied in the more refined aspects of it (being abstract). So really language is a way of thinking, think of the abstract concepts we have words for---- then consider how many abstract concepts we have no words for. Unless you've done such free thinking before you wouldn't know what that means. I've often thought that language in ways restricts our freedom because it is ignorant of so many functions of the mind that are not understood because they cannot be translated into words we have. Even some of the most basic words (one day i was thinking of examples, i cant remember them now) assume certain rules about existence(or whatever its really hard to explain), so our focus is taken to those regions that we have names for concepts, and so many others are neglected and its worse than deeming those forgotten concepts not relevant----- it takes away the prompting to even think to question it! That likely was very difficult to understand--- further proof how inefficient language is.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now