Comments on: Babelfishy Occurrence Tunes Me Positively http://www.contentious.com/2005/12/20/babelfishy-occurrence-tunes-me-positively/ Amy Gahran's news and musings on how we communicate in the online age. Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:57:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: contentious.com - Jott: Auto-Transcription as Entertainment http://www.contentious.com/2005/12/20/babelfishy-occurrence-tunes-me-positively/#comment-1205878 contentious.com - Jott: Auto-Transcription as Entertainment Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:00:17 +0000 #comment-1205878 [...] had a good laugh. Such is life when you rely on automated transcription as a communication tool. I’ve had fun with this before, especially with [...] [...] had a good laugh. Such is life when you rely on automated transcription as a communication tool. I’ve had fun with this before, especially with [...]

]]> By: Roy Jacobsen http://www.contentious.com/2005/12/20/babelfishy-occurrence-tunes-me-positively/#comment-50814 Roy Jacobsen Sat, 07 Jan 2006 01:54:09 +0000 #comment-50814 I recently researched translation for an article I wrote, and the conclusion I came to is that machine translation services like Babelfish are only good to give you--at best--the gist of the text. I think it's safe to say that syntax, grammar, and idiom differences between languages will keep human translators in business for some time. I recently researched translation for an article I wrote, and the conclusion I came to is that machine translation services like Babelfish are only good to give you–at best–the gist of the text. I think it’s safe to say that syntax, grammar, and idiom differences between languages will keep human translators in business for some time.

]]> By: Andrea Weckerle http://www.contentious.com/2005/12/20/babelfishy-occurrence-tunes-me-positively/#comment-49312 Andrea Weckerle Wed, 28 Dec 2005 02:57:17 +0000 #comment-49312 Earlier this month I linked to a German blog. Afterwards I looked into several online translation tools ( Google, AJAX Translator and WorldLingo) to see which came closest to accurately translating the words, as well as the tone and the feel, of the original post. Since Iâ??m fluent in German, I could tell that none of the tools correctly stated what the blogger wrote. This may have been due to the bloggerâ??s casual phrasing. But given bloggersâ?? general avoidance of stilted, corporate-sounding language, Iâ??d say that these translation tools shouldnâ??t be relied on exclusively when accuracy is important. Earlier this month I linked to a German blog. Afterwards I looked into several online translation tools ( Google, AJAX Translator and WorldLingo) to see which came closest to accurately translating the words, as well as the tone and the feel, of the original post. Since Iâ??m fluent in German, I could tell that none of the tools correctly stated what the blogger wrote. This may have been due to the bloggerâ??s casual phrasing. But given bloggersâ?? general avoidance of stilted, corporate-sounding language, Iâ??d say that these translation tools shouldnâ??t be relied on exclusively when accuracy is important.

]]> By: Amy Gahran http://www.contentious.com/2005/12/20/babelfishy-occurrence-tunes-me-positively/#comment-48160 Amy Gahran Wed, 21 Dec 2005 17:41:30 +0000 #comment-48160 Well, I'm glad Babelfish communicated the gist of your article well. But I was especially touched by the musical connotations of "tune me positively." Sounds harmonious. I like that :-) - Amy Gahran Editor, Contentious Well, I’m glad Babelfish communicated the gist of your article well. But I was especially touched by the musical connotations of “tune me positively.” Sounds harmonious. I like that :-)

- Amy Gahran
Editor, Contentious

]]> By: Christian Spannagel http://www.contentious.com/2005/12/20/babelfishy-occurrence-tunes-me-positively/#comment-48149 Christian Spannagel Wed, 21 Dec 2005 15:26:38 +0000 #comment-48149 Hi Amy! Babelfish really seems to be a good tool, you completely understood my article! The last sentence means something like "Such occurrences make me feel good." (Or how would you say this?) Hi Amy! Babelfish really seems to be a good tool, you completely understood my article! The last sentence means something like “Such occurrences make me feel good.” (Or how would you say this?)

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