i use yahoo to get a lot of translations from polish to english and vice versa-people keep telling me to use the Poltran site to translate but i worry that the object of my affections may not understand my polish as it may not be grammatically correct
2006-11-26 00:42:20 · 10 answers · asked by saffron s 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Steer clear of them, they're useless except for amusement value! As most people have said, they are far too simple to use as anything other than a basic dictionary for single words; the rest of the time the mistaken answers they give are ridiculous and completely nonsensical.
Your best bet would be to ask someone who actually speaks both the languages you're working with, be it in person or on here.
2006-11-26 05:21:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I sometimes look at the results of these translations when I want to have a laugh. They miss the subtleties of language, often opt for the wrong meaning where there is ambiguity and do not offer alternative renderings, as a human might. What's more, where there is a really difficult word to translate, they simply leave it in the original. They are better than nothing, but they are not good.
My husband came across a beautiful example when he saw on the website of a South American company which managed clients' funds a translation claiming that they "handled clients' bottoms!"
2006-11-26 01:23:49 · answer #2 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
for simple words I trust them although most of the time they give me only the most common meaning and not all the meanings.
I am French and everytime I see answers from people who used online translators to translate to French or from French, I get really scared by what I read. Because most of the time the answers have completly nothing to do with the original.
But they want to help so I can't really blame them. But if they don't know a word of the language in question, I think they should refrain from helping instead of giving false answers.
So be careful when using online translators.
2006-11-26 00:58:03 · answer #3 · answered by kl55000 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The machines can't really cope even with inflected verbs a lot of the time, let alone syntax in any language that does not follow the English/French pattern. They are kind of alright if you are looking through a foreign website for some key words, or getting an idea of what it is about, but not more.
You are right to be skeptical about them. I always wonder about all those kids proudly presenting askers with totally nonsensical translations they got from the machines.
I agree with the person who recommended that you enlist your (prospective?;-)) partner to teach you.
Good luck!
2006-11-26 01:01:20 · answer #4 · answered by haggesitze 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They translate word for word. It doesn't really work when you translate a large text. A lot of language reverse the words when tranlated in real world. Not on the internet. Ask you significant other to teach you. Thats better communication too.
2006-11-26 00:51:29 · answer #5 · answered by Nostrebor 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Polish grammar is quite complicated and in fact you won`t find any good translator (except humans :D ).
2006-11-26 01:59:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well they are yes! Conversion language with language in many tongues at relaxed.
2006-11-26 00:56:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are not okay at all, they can translate words but not sentences
2006-11-26 01:26:35 · answer #8 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pile of rubbish - be careful - you might end up saying something you really don't mean.
2006-11-26 00:48:04 · answer #9 · answered by cymry3jones 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
they are okay but they dont translator "slang" words very well.
2006-11-26 00:44:33 · answer #10 · answered by mizz annie 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋