Lost in Translation

[atinymonkey]

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

[Sayonara]

lol

[alt_f13]

Originally posted by Zarkov

We an the ether, our spin field are moving together!

[Sayonara]

Maybe if we put Zarkov's theories through 30 translators or so, they will turn out to be quantum theory.

[atinymonkey]

Translated back to English:

He to the ether, our field of the return that we obtained later

 

 

Maybe not then

[Sayonara]

Another 29 goes yet before it makes any sense!

[atinymonkey]

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]

lol, that makes about as much sense as the original

[YT2095]

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]

 

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]

 

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]

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.