Comments on: BlahblahFish http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/ The Neat Side of the Web Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:27:29 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: AT http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1342599 AT Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:23:01 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1342599 I tried the classic movie quote: Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary. Croatian Carpel diem. Possess day , boys. Fabricate yours livestock specific. (Umm, okay) Japanese: Diem of Carpe. Day, grasp the boy. Make your life abnormal. (Hentai da!) Italian: Diem di Carpe. Grippi the day, boys. It renders your screw extraordinary. (!!!) http://www.blahblahfish.com/mangle/show/123437 Italian: I tried the classic movie quote:

Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.

Croatian
Carpel diem. Possess day , boys. Fabricate yours livestock specific.
(Umm, okay)

Japanese:
Diem of Carpe. Day, grasp the boy. Make your life abnormal.
(Hentai da!)

Italian:
Diem di Carpe. Grippi the day, boys. It renders your screw extraordinary.
(!!!)
http://www.blahblahfish.com/mangle/show/123437

Italian:

]]> By: Joshua Cole http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1240181 Joshua Cole Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:13:06 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1240181 Was it just me or was the Romanian translation about William Shattner and meant to be read by Shatner as well? It sure. Seemed like it to me. Was it just me or was the Romanian translation about William Shattner and meant to be read by Shatner as well? It sure. Seemed like it to me.

]]> By: vero4902 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1221377 vero4902 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:52:48 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1221377 My friends and I started doing the manual translations when we were obsessed with Engrish... they didn't update as much as we would have liked, so we had to get our bad translations somewhere else! My friends and I started doing the manual translations when we were obsessed with Engrish... they didn't update as much as we would have liked, so we had to get our bad translations somewhere else!

]]> By: Tony http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1219151 Tony Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:30:25 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1219151 I remember this same sort of thing, a few years ago, with a site called "Lost in Translation"- it does it via several different languages in Babelfish. I used to play a game with folks on some boards, posting the lost-in-translation of a song lyric, which they'd in turn decipher back to the original lyric. http://tashian.com/multibabel is the site. I remember this same sort of thing, a few years ago, with a site called "Lost in Translation"- it does it via several different languages in Babelfish. I used to play a game with folks on some boards, posting the lost-in-translation of a song lyric, which they'd in turn decipher back to the original lyric.

http://tashian.com/multibabel is the site.

]]> By: Gauldar http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1216562 Gauldar Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:09:46 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1216562 Those Welsh and their ' heartburn, somebody send them some Tums! Those Welsh and their ' heartburn, somebody send them some Tums!

]]> By: sparge http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1215968 sparge Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:44:28 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1215968 Idil, that's the reason these are so enjoyable! Idil, that's the reason these are so enjoyable!

]]> By: Idil http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1215410 Idil Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:22:32 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1215410 This isn't accurate, at least not for the turkish one. Some of the words are words we wouldnt use at all for the words that I typed in english, no matter the context. (haha try to make sense of that sentence first) This isn't accurate, at least not for the turkish one. Some of the words are words we wouldnt use at all for the words that I typed in english, no matter the context. (haha try to make sense of that sentence first)

]]> By: Ando http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1215400 Ando Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:13:59 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1215400 OMG... Chinese version is right on the money. Perfect! OMG... Chinese version is right on the money. Perfect!

]]> By: Terry http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1215265 Terry Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:44:37 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1215265 Language shapes thought. Linguistic determinism. Language shapes thought. Linguistic determinism.

]]> By: Jim http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1215195 Jim Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:28:03 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1215195 Russian- 'The vodka is good, but the meat is rotten.' Russian-

'The vodka is good, but the meat is rotten.'

]]> By: sparge http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1215141 sparge Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:48:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1215141 I tried the <a href="http://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/19/best-neatorama-comment-reward-haiku-t-shirt/" rel="nofollow">classic neatorama comment</a>: Old man standing tall. Old woman bending willow. Friction burns them both. Here are a couple of the translations: Portuguese: Aged man who is high. Willow of fold of the adult woman. The friction burns them both. Korean: Height stands on a large scale to be, the old person. The old person the willow which bends. Rubbing ignites the (thing) two which will listen all. Croatian: Old man stoppage lofty. Crone flexure willow. Limature incinerate them two. Norwegian: Greybeard stand high. Ancient woman bending savage. Friction burn her both. Slovenian: pater whack virgate. old woman wrapping willy. tussle sideboard them the two. (This is great! leave off the last two words and it's even still a haiku!) Welsh: Old man standing ' heartburn continue. ' heartburn old female bending willow. Friction burns have gone both. I tried the classic neatorama comment:

Old man standing tall.
Old woman bending willow.
Friction burns them both.

Here are a couple of the translations:

Portuguese:
Aged man who is high.
Willow of fold of the adult woman.
The friction burns them both.

Korean:

Height stands on a large scale to be, the old person.
The old person the willow which bends.
Rubbing ignites the (thing) two which will listen all.

Croatian:

Old man stoppage lofty.
Crone flexure willow.
Limature incinerate them two.

Norwegian:

Greybeard stand high.
Ancient woman bending savage.
Friction burn her both.

Slovenian:
pater whack virgate.
old woman wrapping willy.
tussle sideboard them the two.

(This is great! leave off the last two words and it's even still a haiku!)

Welsh:

Old man standing ' heartburn continue.
' heartburn old female bending willow.
Friction burns have gone both.

]]> By: mouser http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1215137 mouser Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:37:22 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1215137 In 2004 I wrote a free program (for MS Windows) that does this; the latest version has tons of options and is still available here: http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/boomerang/index.html -mouser In 2004 I wrote a free program (for MS Windows) that does this; the latest version has tons of options and is still available here:
http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/boomerang/index.html

-mouser

]]> By: Cath http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1215101 Cath Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:21:58 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1215101 I love this, it proves how much we translators are needed :P I love this, it proves how much we translators are needed :P

]]> By: DOuglas2 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1215052 DOuglas2 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:37:44 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1215052 I would be careful to know the original context of the "english" phrase before I called any of the retranslations "good summaries". Lest I reveal how little I know of my own cultural heritage. I would be careful to know the original context of the "english" phrase before I called any of the retranslations "good summaries". Lest I reveal how little I know of my own cultural heritage.

]]> By: yo http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1214992 yo Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:46:12 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1214992 The reason why the chinese translation did such a nice job defining the idiom may be due to the huge effort they put into updating their translation software prior to the olympics. There was a massive effort to get rid of chingrish statements in public - many of which were due to literally translated idioms. so it's reasonable to guess that part of the fix-it effort went into defining massive numbers of english idioms into understandable chinese definitions. Hence, the nice, succinct phrase. I could be wrong. The reason why the chinese translation did such a nice job defining the idiom may be due to the huge effort they put into updating their translation software prior to the olympics. There was a massive effort to get rid of chingrish statements in public - many of which were due to literally translated idioms. so it's reasonable to guess that part of the fix-it effort went into defining massive numbers of english idioms into understandable chinese definitions. Hence, the nice, succinct phrase.

I could be wrong.

]]> By: yo http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1214989 yo Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:43:17 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1214989 The slovenian sounds like something Sarah Palin would say. The slovenian sounds like something Sarah Palin would say.

]]> By: Chiroptera http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1214984 Chiroptera Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:29:39 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1214984 "Alice fell down the rabbit hole." turned into "Alice criminal under the. rabbit cholera." using Romanian. "Alice fell down the rabbit hole." turned into "Alice criminal under the. rabbit cholera." using Romanian.

]]> By: Dyslexic boB http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1214923 Dyslexic boB Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:24:50 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1214923 Ha! "Do not want!" turns into "Want!" using either of the Chinese options. Ha! "Do not want!" turns into "Want!" using either of the Chinese options.

]]> By: Gauldar http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1214852 Gauldar Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:20:11 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1214852 Reminds me of those stories where companies first went into Asian countries and displayed advertising. I think Pepsi advertised in China with 'Come alive! You're in the Pepsi generation', and become something along the lines of 'Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead'. KFC in Japan with "Finger licking good" became "Bite your fingers off". There is also a myth that the translation of the name Coca-Cola became 'bite the wax tadpole' or 'female horse flattened with wax', but I think that was mostly from shop owners translation of the product. Reminds me of those stories where companies first went into Asian countries and displayed advertising. I think Pepsi advertised in China with 'Come alive! You're in the Pepsi generation', and become something along the lines of 'Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead'. KFC in Japan with "Finger licking good" became "Bite your fingers off". There is also a myth that the translation of the name Coca-Cola became 'bite the wax tadpole' or 'female horse flattened with wax', but I think that was mostly from shop owners translation of the product.

]]> By: Walaka http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1214843 Walaka Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:09:10 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1214843 At least a few of the dictionaries that this program uses must have some complete idiomatic expressions listed. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" run through Czech came back as "Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow." This gets across the sense of the original expression, but is a completely different saying that would not have been generated by close-but-no-cigar translating. The Chinese result from the Neato example looks like this, as well. Direct correspondence aside, I noticed that the Romance languages seem to translate more accurately than the others. At least a few of the dictionaries that this program uses must have some complete idiomatic expressions listed. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" run through Czech came back as "Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow." This gets across the sense of the original expression, but is a completely different saying that would not have been generated by close-but-no-cigar translating. The Chinese result from the Neato example looks like this, as well.

Direct correspondence aside, I noticed that the Romance languages seem to translate more accurately than the others.

]]> By: Rob http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1214838 Rob Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:02:14 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1214838 Yea- The Chinese one summarized your proverb pretty well! Yea- The Chinese one summarized your proverb pretty well!

]]> By: Gail Pink http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1214832 Gail Pink Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:54:18 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1214832 "The Spirit is William" - LOVE IT! "The Spirit is William" - LOVE IT!

]]> By: JenDiggity http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1214831 JenDiggity Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:53:18 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1214831 Also: I used to do the same thing manually on Babelfish for fun when I was bored. Good times! Also: I used to do the same thing manually on Babelfish for fun when I was bored. Good times!

]]> By: JenDiggity http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/26/blahblahfish/comment-page-1/#comment-1214830 JenDiggity Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:52:21 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21089#comment-1214830 I like how the Chinese version not only says the same thing, but does it more succinctly. I like how the Chinese version not only says the same thing, but does it more succinctly.

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