• Convert languages?

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    #355377

    Is there an addin or something that you can get where you type in English and it converts to another language, like Spanish? Someone asked me this, and my first answer was no. But, maybe I’m wrong??

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    • #523991

      Here is a link to a website that can translate from English to several different languages. I don’t know about a Word plug-in, though.

    • #524003

      That works great! I can then cut/paste it back to Word. Thanks!

      • #524037

        The translation may not be that great- usually it’s a quite literal translation, and although useful for getting the gist of something, may not be good for anything more important. The translations can sound quite stilted.

        Here’s the previous post translated into German and back into English:

        Is links here to website, which can translate of English to some different languages. I do not know in a word patch cord, out.

        • #524252

          Just a little remark from a german:
          The translation of the first sentence into german was not that bad. The second sentence is bogus, because the phrase “Word plug-in” is a technical term not part of the common english vocabulary (even if we techies think so :-).
          If I would ask my sister(english teacher, but she has no clue about computers at all) about a Word plug-in, she would stare at me with a blank gaze or a shy smile in her face.
          Translating bogus back to english results in bogus**2.

          • #524257

            Peter,

            Thanks for that.

            I actually tried the first time into Spanish (which I know a little better than German- sorry, lots better) but it didn’t illustrate my point well enough!

            In technical things, in the limited experience I’ve had in translating, translations can be reasonably good. This is as long as the language is quite precise.

            But my experience with translating conversational emails has been not very profitable. There’s just too much which is implied, colloquial, or imprecise to be useful. The result is not much better than I, with my limited knowledge of Spanish, could understand.

            It’s a great start- but my point is- don’t rely on it.

            Additionally- if it’s only just a reasonable translation with Altavista/Babelfish, and all their poswer- perhaps it’s beyond the powers of a mere PC to do a reasonable job?

            Thanks for your contribution.
            ————————————————
            And here’s my post from English to Spanish to English:
            ———————————————-
            Peter, Thanks for that reason. I really tried the first time in the Spanish (that I know a little grieved better than German, portions better) but he did not illustrate my receiver of paper of the end enough! In technical things, in the limited experience that I have had in translating, translations can be reasonably good. This is while the language is absolutely exact. But my experience with email conversational translating has been not very beneficial. It has just too much is implied, familiar, or vague to be useful. The result is not far better that I, with my limited knowledge of the Spanish, could understand. It is a great principle but my end is does not trust her. In addition if a reasonable translation with Altavista/Babelfish is only right, perhaps and all his poswer- is beyond the powers of a mere PC to make a work reasonable? Thanks for its contribution. And here it is my post of English to the Spanish to the English:
            ————————————-
            English to German:
            Peter, Dank f

            • #524263

              Geoff,
              you’re absolutely right and I can confirm your experiences.
              My posting was thought as a funny remark about translation engines and their capabilities.
              In this sense: the german translation of your reply is really funny as you might guess from the result of the backward translation into english.
              BTW: I guess, you’re spanish is better than my english! laugh
              Cheers, Peter

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