07-16-2006, 08:40 PM | #1 |
Bad Influence
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How Accurate Is Babel Fish?
The Backstory:
I belong to a variety of Yahoo groups, and a member of one of these groups sent me an E-mail...written entirely in French. I know enough French to understand what the subject is, but beyond that I'm lost. The Question: Is Babel Fish a good enough translater to convert both detailed and abstract concepts accurately, or should I pursue another method of translation? Thanks in advance for your responses.
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07-16-2006, 09:05 PM | #2 |
Ale! And keep 'em coming!
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Beyond the Pattern of Reality...or Germany
Posts: 8,527
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Um, I don't think so. Babelfish can often butcher a text, only translating the words, but not the sense they might have in relation or in combination with other words.
Better go for another way of translating it. -
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07-16-2006, 09:14 PM | #3 |
Bad Influence
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Thanks Jazhara. That was pretty much what I expected.
I may give it a try just for laughs.
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Ignorance is bliss, denial is divine, and willful ignorance is a religious experience. Share the love. <3
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07-16-2006, 10:46 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London
Posts: 357
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I would go with another route. As an example, I've taken your post and translated it with babel fish into French and back to English again:
Backstory: I belong to a variety of groups of Yahoo, and a member of one of these groups sent to me an E-mail... entirely written in French. I can enough French to include/understand what is the subject, but beyond that I am lost. The Question: Should fish of Babel east rather good relocate to convert exactly detailed and abstracted concepts, or I to continue another method of translation? Thank you in advance for your answers. |
07-17-2006, 02:11 AM | #6 |
The Thread™ will die.
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If it's important don't trust Babelfish .
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07-17-2006, 02:38 AM | #7 |
In an evening of July...
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Germany
Posts: 1,215
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Fish of Babel east rather bad relocate to convert. I'd ask a French person here on the forums to translate it for you.
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07-17-2006, 06:30 AM | #8 |
Bad Influence
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I tried Babel Fish anyway, and it did a decent job, although some of the phrasing was very peculiar.
I typed my response to him in English and included an explanation of how I was translating, then I ran the response through Babel Fish and sent it on it's way. It wasn't a hugely important E-mail, and if Babel Fish translated my words to French the way it translated his words to English, then I'm sure he got a good chuckle out of my reply. Thanks again everyone for your help.
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Ignorance is bliss, denial is divine, and willful ignorance is a religious experience. Share the love. <3
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07-18-2006, 04:57 AM | #9 |
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Location: Belgium
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Babelfish is okay to get the gist of the story. In translates most nouns correctly so you usually have a pretty good idea of the meaning.
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