CUBA-L Archives

Archiver > CUBA > 1999-03 > 0920356991


From: "Hildapb" <>
Subject: RE: English-Spanish translation software
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 01:43:11 -0500


Hi Alan:
Well, I must admit it is "funny spanish" but of course you should try and
communicate in whatever means you have at hand. Don't worry we sometimes
"butcher" the spanish language too!!!!!
Please don't keep from posting.
Regards
Hilda

-----Original Message-----
From: Lorraine and Alan Perry [mailto:]
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 1999 1:15 AM
To:
Subject: English-Spanish translation software

Unfortunately, I speak no Spanish but I often want to communicate with
Spanish speaking people on the Cuban genealogy boards. I use
translation software to understand messages, etc. written in Spanish and
I recognize just how badly it translates, but it is good enough to allow
me to understand the meaning of most messages. This, together with my
dictionary is usually enough.

I have resisted the temptation to post a message in software translated
Spanish knowing how bad the translations are but the alternative, often,
is not to write at all. My question is this - is really bad Spanish
acceptable or is it better to remain silent and not reveal one's
ignorance?

Just how bad are the translations? I'll translate all of this and you
will see for yourself. But if you are fair, you'll probably admit, bad
as it is, that you could understand what this message is all about.

Desgraciadamente, hablo no español pero yo a menudo quiero comunicar con
el español gente que habla en las tablas cubanas de la genealogía. Uso
software de traducción para entender los mensajes, etc. escrito en el
español y yo reconozco apenas cuán mal traduce, pero es bueno suficiente
en permitir que mí entender el significar de la mayoría de los mensajes.
Esto, junto con mi diccionario es generalmente suficiente.
He resistido la tentación para difundir un mensaje en el software saber
traducido de español cuán malo las traducciones son pero la alternativa,
a menudo, no deberá escribir en todo. ¿Mi pregunta es esto - el español
realmente malo es aceptable o es mejor permanecer silencioso y no
revelar una ignorancia?
¿Apenas cuán malo son las traducciones? Traduciré todo este y usted verá
para usted mismo. Pero si usted es justo, usted admitirá probablemente,
malo como es, que usted podría entender lo que este mensaje es todo
acerca de.

That's it. Was it too bad or could you understand it? Fortunately,
most of the Spanish speaking people on this and similar boards speak
excellent English but I wonder if there are some out there who hesitate
to join in just because their English is - well - as bad as my Spanish?
Translation software could help them.

I sincerely hope that nobody takes offense at my butchering of the
Spanish language, I'm just trying to open up some lines of communication
and would enjoy hearing your comments,

Alan

Alan Perry
Wilmington,
North Carolina,
USA

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