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Polish Culture Forum :: POLAND - POLSKA - POLONIA :: Genealogy - the study of family ancestries and histories :: Language tool for translations

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Topic: Language tool for translations (Read 428 times)

jimpres
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Language tool for translations
« Thread Started on May 9, 2008, 1:23pm »

I tried this tool on some simple English to Polish translations and it worked fine.
How are you?
Where is the hospital?

Both came out correct.

May be helpful to those needed translation assistance

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Jaga
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Re: Language tool for translations
« Reply #1 on May 9, 2008, 3:18pm »

Jim,

what is a link? It would be interesting to check because my experience from the past is that it is very difficult to build a translation tool for Polish language.

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Jaga PolishSite
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kaima
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Re: Language tool for translations
« Reply #2 on May 9, 2008, 9:13pm »

Aha ... I have a Slovak translation program. I use it to help me understand some passages I encounter on web pages or with scans I make of Slovak books. It is also handy for writing letters to my Aunts. I usually also write in English and German so the kids can understand and tell her what I really meant. They did write to say please continue doing it, however, as the aunt does enjoy it!

Most people complain about translation software, and if you are fluent in a language it is pretty well useless. However, I find it handy as outlined above. True, it is far from perfect and comes up with bad translations. For someone like me, however, that can be a spur to take the time to use the software as best possible and utilize it as a learning experience as well. Words often have multiple meanings, so I keep on topic and try to choose the word that applies to the topic at hand. If I write "Polish is a hard language to learn." then I will look for hard as in difficult rather than hard as in steel. This calls for patience and 'reverse searching' which reveals the difference between tvrdy', tvrdo, and t'az^ky', and pevny'.
tvrdy' = harsh, arduous
tvrdo = hard, rough, stiff
tazky = hard, gravis, arduous
pevny' = consistent, immovable

In this case I would chose Tvrdy as most appropriate. However, I would have also presumed that its declension would be tvrdo rather than have different shades of meaning all together.

The meaning may be educated guesswork at best, but the greatest weakness is simply grammar. Word order and declensions are the killers that the computer does not address. It adds up to a worthwhile exercise for me, giving me a chance to think about the language and try to learn some more of it. So I use it, occasionally. If I used it regularly I would build my vocabulary and skills, at least.

Probably everyone who had learned a second language after childhood has realized that every topic demands a different vocabulary.

Do the recipients understand my true meaning? You betcha my life! ;->

Kai

My favorite language experience was when I put together about 5 words of dialect I learned as a kid and used them with my aunt who had moved from Slovakia to the Czech Republic. Her kids grew up with Czech language, of course. She understood me and had a good laugh, while her kids begged her for a translation!

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Jaga
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Re: Language tool for translations
« Reply #3 on May 9, 2008, 9:46pm »

It is amazing how Polish is similar to Slovak. Slovaks just have more consonants.

tvrdy' = harsh, arduous TWARDY (Polish)
tvrdo = hard, rough, stiff
tazky = hard, gravis, arduous CIEZKI (Polish)
pevny' = consistent, immovable PEWNY - this word means it Polish something which is sure or obvious, so the meaning was changed somehow

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Jaga PolishSite
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freetobe
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Re: Language tool for translations
« Reply #4 on May 9, 2008, 9:56pm »

So what means "powizdriam"

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jimpres
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Re: Language tool for translations
« Reply #5 on May 10, 2008, 10:06am »

Jaga,

The link is http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en

Przepraszam

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freetobe
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Re: Language tool for translations
« Reply #6 on May 10, 2008, 9:13pm »

Jim,
This link does not have Polish/English translation.

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kaima
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Re: Language tool for translations
« Reply #7 on May 10, 2008, 10:17pm »

OK, Hijacking the thread of prince & princesses, FreeWannaBe said "It's about time you recognized "toad breath" After kissing toads did you not recognize them as male baboo's. "

Now one phrase I never successfully translated into German was "dog breath", as in the insult to someone. Now we have "toad breath".

Are there any dis-respectful Polish equivalents? How are you at translating?

Kai
Sorry Freetobe, the slander on the name seemed to fit the moment. We all WannaBeFree.

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justjohn
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Re: Language tool for translations
« Reply #8 on May 11, 2008, 5:39am »

May 10, 2008, 10:17pm, kaima wrote:

One or two come to mind. If I remember my younger days correctly one phrase is 'dogs blood'. (psa creft)(spelling)

Another is cursing cholera. I would believe it is spelled the same.

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jimpres
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Re: Language tool for translations
« Reply #9 on May 11, 2008, 8:44am »

Freetobe,

I beg to differ. If you look at the large translate text rectangle under it, it says Spanish and English.
Just change it to English and Polish

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Jaga
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Re: Language tool for translations
« Reply #10 on May 11, 2008, 10:46am »

Jim,

I checked "Happy Birthday" translation and it was quite good. I will check some more complex words and we will see.

My brother asked me to translate his poem into English. Here what google did:

Two small friend. Province calm.
But suddenly mad world. G³ucho dudni war.
Przemienia the shape of letters in daily newspapers,
gard³owo szczeka radio and the school will no longer…

so, there is still a room for improvement

« Last Edit: May 11, 2008, 10:48am by Jaga »

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jimpres
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Re: Language tool for translations
« Reply #11 on May 13, 2008, 10:40am »

I know the translations will never be perfect but may help those who need some simple sentences translated.
It is the best one I have encountered so far.

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