I would like to "translate" old text like from the 1800's into modern language. Are there tools or software beside general dictionaries which could help me? Thanks a lot!!!
2006-12-20 13:44:31 · 5 answers · asked by kypso 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
No. The general approach to your problem is called "literacy." Being able to read something and then translate what you've read into your own words is the standard test of "reading comprehension." If you can't do it, no software will help you.
That said, you should find out if your school or city has a subscription to the Oxford English Dictionary online service. For example, as a resident of Seattle, I am provided with free use of the OED through the Seattle library -- I just have to enter my patron number into a proxy server. The OED is miles better than any other online dictionary, especially for archaic language. And it's much more convenient than manually leafing through a dictionary, which means that I use it more frequently. If you're having trouble with definitions, it might be a place to start.
2006-12-20 14:53:26 · answer #1 · answered by Drew 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not quit sure what SMS language is, but I am assuming it is the "texting" or "IM'ing" language. I don't dare look it up, for if I am wrong, I will have no answer for you. My hatred for this new "language" has recently started to dwindle. I never really had a problem with it, but all of a sudden it just hit me. I was tired of not being able to understand what people were trying to say. I understand using such shorthand when sending a text, but it is when people can't take the extra two seconds to type (on a computer) the actual words, that I get upset. I personally have never been any kind of stickler on grammar or spelling, for my own is often quite poor. However, when every single time I try to read what someone has written I have to spend five minutes deciphering what they are trying to say, I get annoyed, to say the least. For about two months, I wouldn't even visit Y!A, or similar sites, simply because I didn't feel like trying to sort through the crap. My worry is not so much the mutilation of the English language as of now, but the new generation of people unable to use the English language effectively. I know people that have all but forgotten how to create even the simplest of complete thoughts in the form of a sentence. That isn't even mentioning spelling or the correct usage of words. When you always use "2" in place of "two," "to," and "too," eventually you forget which is to be used for what purpose. I'll get off my soapbox now; I'm sure you don't have any desire for my rant to continue. I have much more I would like to say about this, but I'm sure I would just be preaching to the choir. I feel I should end this by again saying that I do not claim to demonstrate a perfect use of the English language. I'm sure anyone with a sixth grade education could pick apart what I have just written and throw it back at me. However, I do feel that I effectively conveyed my thoughts and that it wasn't necessary to reread every line six times to determine what I was trying to say. "if not 2 bad 4 u lol"
2016-03-13 09:05:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
English from the 1800's is pretty much considered modern English. (Old English is pre-1200's or so, I think) Sometimes the letters are off - f's can mean s's and u's can mean v's, or vice versa.
One thing you can do is to find a good study guide for that specific text or look up the weird words in a good dictionary (like the Oxford English Dictionary - the big one).
Maybe there is some sort of software that I don't know about, but it is really a good idea to do it on your own so that you can do it when that stuff comes up on exams.
2006-12-20 13:50:19 · answer #3 · answered by jar 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The 1800's are NOT "Old English"
Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, is what "Beowulf" was written in.
Middle English is what Chaucer wrote in.
Early Modern English is what Shakespeare and the King James Bible were written in.
Texts from the 1800s are in Modern English - they just use a different style, including different vocabulary choices at times, than we currently do. Therefore, you can't "translate" them. You could "re-state" them or "re-word" them, but then you lose something of their flavour.
I suggest you just read more and become more familiar with the style.
2006-12-20 13:51:08 · answer #4 · answered by Elise K 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
and here i was ready to translate it for you right from my head, but no now you've misted you chance
2006-12-20 13:47:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just read on dude.
2006-12-20 13:48:49 · answer #6 · answered by pirateron 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋