Translations

My first experience with computer “translation” was really transcribing typed English text into Braille. I found out quickly that there are limitations. My uncle told me that the next time I wrote him to please indicate the top of the page, so he’d know where to start reading. So, I was really curious about how good these translation sites were. I do have some questions as to accuracy, but overall feel that they can be a good tool. I noticed that AltaVista’s Babel Fish is powered by Systran, so those translations agree. There are differences between them and Free Online Translations, so the best thing to do would be to have a native speaker review any translations for accuracy

Instructional situations where translation would be a valuable tool:

Lessons on the economy of a foreign nation: the ability to access business information from a local newspaper gives first hand information as to what is important in that nation’s opinion.

Current events: Different countries stress viewpoints that highlight the things/views that are most important to them. Reading and understanding other’s views is important to be able to understand different cultures. Again, local newspapers let you know how that area is being impacted by the same things that are impacting us here.

Understanding literature from another language: To be able to copy portions of text from an original language and get an English translation would be useful in a language class.

A Multi-national project where students from several countries worked together on a project; the same information can be translated into each language, making collaboration easier.

Research projects requiring information from foreign sites. Some sites I have visited have areas of their sites that are only available in the native language; using the translation tools would give access to more information.

Translation Text Blocks:

(Note: a batey is a local word for what is essentially a labor camp)

I translated from English to Spanish and English to German at each of the translation sites.

The Least of These Ministries was established by Steve Hull a few years ago following a visit to the Dominican Republic. He saw the poverty in the bateys and heard God's call, "What are you going to do, Steve?"

Free translation online http://translation2.paralink.com/

Spanish:

La Menor parte de Estos Ministerios fueron establecidos por Steve Hull hace unos años después de una visita a la República dominicana. ¿Él vio la pobreza en el bateys y oyó la llamada de Dios, "Qué va usted a hacer, Steve? "

German:

Meist Dieser Ministerien wurden von Steve Hull vor ein paar Jahren nach einem Besuch nach der Dominikanischen Republik eingesetzt. Er sah die Armut im bateys und hörte den Anruf des Gottes, "Was sind Sie dabei, Steve zu tun? "

Systran Information and Translation Technologies http://www.systransoft.com/index.html

Spanish:

Los lo menos de los estos ministerios fueron establecidos por Steve

Hull hace algunos años que seguían una visita a la República

Dominicana. Él vio la pobreza en los bateys y la llamada del dios

oído, "cuáles son usted que va a hacer, Steve?"

German:

Vor das wenige dieser Ministerien wurde von Steve Hull einigen Jahren

einem Besuch in die Dominikanische Republik folgend hergestellt. Er

sah die Armut in in den bateys und dem Anruf des gehörten Gottes,

"was Sie gehend zu tun sind, Steve?"

AltaVista Babel Fish http://world.altavista.com/

Spanish:

Los lo menos de los estos ministerios fueron establecidos por Steve Hull hace algunos años que seguían una visita a la República Dominicana. Él vio la pobreza en los bateys y la llamada del dios oído, "cuáles son usted que va a hacer, Steve?"

German:

Vor das wenige dieser Ministerien wurde von Steve Hull einigen Jahren einem Besuch in die Dominikanische Republik folgend hergestellt. Er sah die Armut in in den bateys und dem Anruf des gehörten Gottes, "was Sie gehend zu tun sind, Steve?"