UNRELIABILITY OF ALTAVISTA BABELFISH TRANSLATION SERVICE by benlisquare/libenja

10 Sep 2007 1:42

Babelfish (http://babelfish.altavista.com) is a very handy tool; it allows one to translate text between languages, although it is not very accurate. It is an Internet Translating Service used for only a rough idea of what is going on. But to what extent does the error become outrageous? Even through one translation, a complex sentence consisting of words such as "experimentation of various cells upon respiration of Hydrogen Peroxide" become "The dog beckons fish soup canister without marriage, asks the Hu who allows Hydrogen air applicant within body sponges". Although not so good when writing a report on Weapons of Mass Destruction to the White House, it is quite humourous.
And then, when you add MULTIPLE translations after that, this is where the fun begins. After just three consecutive translations of the same text, lines of randomness begin to appear. The following line (well, actually SEE BELOW) is a random line I just thought of on the spot. The first line explains to a testee the conditions of a typing test; the second line is made up of half random story, half lyrics to Linkin Park's "In the End" with many obvious, purposely placed errors.
In this example, I shall translate the same text from English to German, then French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Russian, re-translating them back to English between each one to "check our progress".
As you can see, upon first translation, many words become extremely "formal" (e.g. "in order to" rather than "to provide"). After that, along with strings of randomness (words such as "Dog" and "Onion"), one can observe that the length of the text increases. Easily noticable, how one line of 9 words become three lines of twenty.
Then, there are the errors of where some words ("thou") are not present in other languages according to Babelfish, where lines of "Das ist die thou Leibensragen", and some words from other languages that, just translated TO be Babelfish, aren't recognised and translated BACK by Babelfish.
This is an example of "data loss" - when strings of data are fed through a processor (software or chipset) numerous times of different settings, there will always be data loss. This explains the crackling effect when you convert an MP3 to WMA, then to WAV, then back to MP3, or when you convert a DVD to MP4, then to AVI, then burn it to DVD format again. Or shoving layers of file compression, ZIP then RAR then ZIP then RAR then EXE.
Also, the grammar and punctuation of various languages are different - the verb may go before the noun on one language, otherwise for another. Another possibility is the use and confusion of homograms and names. There is also the inaccuracy of non-human-operated machines, such as (lame) computers. (And for some reason, "Thou" turned into "Tho" after French, and "Distraction" became "diversons" before Chinese, note the incorrect spelling of "diversions". Damn nooby Babelfish.)
See the example below:

ORIGINAL TEXT IN ENGLISH:
This is a typing test; it is a test designed to provide an insight to whether one can think while typing, and tho what extent one can type while under various distractions. In this typing test, the subject is to type random meaningless text that may appear in the mind, whatever the subject may think of. These may include various hobbies, stuff and objects, which thus may cause thou to hath the plague, with what different objects can tie meet, with this test type there will be no error whatsoever this test will eliminate all possible forms of spelling mistakes and toupees.

There once was a dog his name was bob he liked to eat sausages with his big flay mob. One day he went and count to three then his dodo came and watching his mead. One thing, I don’t know why it disable even matter how hard you try, keep that in mind as I thru to rug all I am time is a valuable thing watch it fly by as the pendulum swings ant to can be tacks like the wave so unreal don’t know count below watch the time go out the windows it doesn’t even show wasted it all cuts to watch you go and everything inside I don’t know it all dell apart want to count all air am.


ENG TO DE:
Dieses ist ein schreibentest; es ist ein Test, der entworfen ist, um einen Einblick zu zur Verfügung zu stellen, ob man beim Schreiben und tho denken kann, inwieweit man während unter verschiedenen Ablenkungen schreiben kann. Das Thema an in diesem schreibentest soll das Thema gelegentlichen bedeutungslosen Text schreiben, der im Verstand erscheinen kann, was auch immer denken kann. Diese können verschiedene Liebhabereien, Material einschließen und Gegenstände, die Thou zum hath die Pest, mit, welchen unterschiedlichen Gegenständen verursachen können folglich Treffen binden können, mit dieser Testart dort sind keine Störung whatsoever, die dieser Test alle möglichen Formen der Rechtschreibung Fehler und der toupees beseitigt. Es gab einmal einen Hund, den sein Name Pendel war, er Würste mit seinem grossen flay Pöbel essen mochte. Ein Tag ging er und Zählimpuls bis drei dann sein Dodo kam sein mead aufpassen. Eine Sache, weiß ich nicht, warum sie gleichmäßige Angelegenheit, wie stark Sie versuchen, hält das im Verstand sperrt, da I durch zur Wolldecke alle, die ich Zeit bin, eine wertvolle Sacheuhr es Fliege vorbei da das Pendelschwingen ist Ameise zu kann Heftzwecken wie die Welle sein, also unwirklich nicht wissen Sie, Zählimpuls folgend die Zeit aufpassen, zu erlöschen die Fenster er nicht sich sogar vergeudete ihn alle Schnitte, um Sie aufzupassen zu gehen zeigt und alles Innere ich nicht kenne, daß es alles enge Tal auseinander alle Luft morgens zählen möchten.

THEN DE TO ENG:
This is a writing test; it is a test, which is sketched, in order to make a view available too whether one can think during the writing and tho, to what extent one can write during under different diversons. The topic on in this writing test is to write the topic to occasional insignificant text, which can appear in the understanding, whatever think can. These can include different hobbies, material and articles, the Thou to hath the plague, also, for which different articles can cause therefore meetings are not to bind to be able, with this kind of test disturbance there more whatsoever, those this test all possible forms of the orthography error and that eliminates toupees. There was to eat once a dog, which was its name pendulum, it sausages with its large flay Poebel liked. One day went it and counting pulse to three then its Dodo came its mead to watch out. , I know a thing not, why she holds even affair, as strongly you try, in the understanding closes, since I is not through to the blanket all, which are I time, past there a valuable thing clock it fly pendulum rockers ant too can thumbtacks like the wave be, thus unreal does not know you, counting pulse following the time to watch out, to expire the windows he even wasted itself him all cuts, around you watching out to go shows and I do not know all inside that it all close valley would like to count all air in the morning apart.

THEN ENG TO FR:
C'est un essai d'écriture ; c'est un essai, qui est esquissé, afin de rendre une vue disponible trop si on peut penser pendant l'écriture et le tho, dans quelle mesure on peut écrire pendant différents diversons sous. La matière dessus dans cet essai d'écriture doit écrire la matière au texte insignifiant occasionnel, qui peut paraître dans l'arrangement, celui qui pensent pouvez. Ceux-ci peuvent inclure les différents passe-temps, matériel et articles, le thou au hath la peste, aussi, pour laquelle les différents articles peuvent causer donc des réunions ne doivent pas lier pour pouvoir en mesure, avec ce genre de perturbation d'essai là plus de quelque, ces cet essai toutes les formes possibles de l'erreur d'orthographe et cela élimine des toupees. Il y devait manger une fois qu'un chien, qui était son pendule nommé, il des saucisses avec son grand Poebel flay aimé. Un jour est allé il et impulsion de compte à trois qu'alors son dodo est venu son hydromel à observer dehors, je savent une chose pas, pourquoi elle tient l'affaire égale, pendant que fortement vous essayez, dans l'arrangement la ferme, puisqu'I n'est pas à travers toute à la couverture, qui est temps de I, après là une horloge valable de chose des culbuteurs de pendule de mouche des thumbtacks de bidon de fourmi trop comme la vague soit, ainsi irréel ne vous connaît pas, impulsion de compte après l'heure d'observer dehors, pour expirer les fenêtres il s'est même gaspillé il toutes les coupes, autour de vous observant dehors pour aller des expositions et je ne sais pas tous l'intérieur qui il tout la vallée étroite voudrait compter tout l'air en matin distant.

THEN DR TO ENG:
It is a test of writing; it is a test, which is outlined, in order to make too much a sight available if one can think during the writing and the tho, up to what point one can write during different diversons under. The matter above in this test of writing must write the matter with the occasional unimportant text, which can appear in arrangement, that which think can. Those can include the various pastimes, material and articles, the thou with the hath the plague, also, for which the various articles can thus cause meetings should not bind to be able in measurement, with this kind of disturbance of test there more some, these this test all the possible forms of the misspelling and that eliminates from the toupees. It was there to eat once that a dog, which was its named pendulum, it of sausages with its large Poebel flay liked. _ one day be go it and impulse of account to three that then its dodo be suddenly its hydromel to observe outside, I know a thing not, why it hold the business equal, while strongly you test, in the arrangement the farm, since I be not through all with cover, which be time of I, after there a clock valid of thing of tumbler of pendulum of fly of thumbtacks of can of ant too like the wave be, thus unreal you know not, impulse of account after the hour to observe outside, to expire the window it himself be even waste it all the cut to go from the exposures and I do not know all the interior which it all the narrow valley would like to count all the air in distant morning.

THEN ENG TO CHN-S:
这是文字测试; 这是测试, 被概述, 为了做许多视域可利用如果你可能认为在文字和tho 期间, 由什么点在你之下决定能写在不同的diversons 期间。问题上面在文字这个测试必须写问题以偶尔的不重要的文本, 可能出版在安排, 那认为能。那些可能包括各种各样的消遣、材料和文章, thou 以hath 瘟疫, 还, 各种各样的文章可能因而导致会议不应该束缚能在测量, 以这测试干扰那里更多一些, 这些这个测试所有拼错的可能的形式并且那从toupees 消灭。它是那里吃一次, 狗, 是它的名为摆锤, 它香肠与它的大Poebel flay 喜欢_ 一天是去它并且帐户冲动到三它的渡渡鸟突然然后是它的hydromel 观察外面, 我知道事不是, 为什么它举行企业均等, 当您强烈测试, 在安排农场, 因为I 不是通过所有以盖子, 是I 的时期, 在那里时钟合法罐头thumbtacks 飞行摆锤翻转者事蚂蚁象波浪太是之后, 因而虚幻您知道不是, 冲动帐户在小时以后观察外面, 到期窗口它是甚而废它所有裁减去从曝光并且我不知道它所有狭窄的谷会希望计数所有空气在遥远的早晨的所有内部。

THEN CHN-S TO ENG:
This is the writing test; This is the test, is outlined, in order to make many sights to be possible to use if you possibly thought in writing and tho period, the decision can write by any under you in different diversons period. Above the question must write the question in writing this test by the occasionally unimportant text, possibly publishes is arranging, that thinking energy. These possibly include various whiles away the time, the material and the article, thou by the hath plague, but also, various article is possible thus causes the conference not to be supposed the binding energy to survey, disturbs there more somewhat by this test, these this tests all puts together the wrong possible form and that from the toupees elimination. It is there eats a time, the dog, is its named bob, its sausage likes _ with its big Poebel flay one day is goes to it and the account impulse to three it crosses the migratory bird suddenly then is outside its hydromel observation, I knew the matter is not, why does it hold the enterprise to be equal, when you intensely test, in arranges the farm, because I is not through possesses by the cover, is I time, after there clock legitimate canned food thumbtacks flight bob tumbler matter ant likely wave too is, thus is unreal you to know is not outside, the impulse account later will observe in the hour, The due window it is even abandons it all to reduce from the exposure and I did not know it all narrow Gu Hui hoped counts all air in the remote morning all in.

THEN ENG TO JP:
これは執筆テストである; これは別のdiversons の期間にあなたの下でによって執筆及びtho の期間に多分考えたら使用して可能であるためにテスト、多くの視力を作るために、決定書くことができる輪郭を描かれる。質問の上で多分出版する整理している、その考えることは時折重要でないテキストによってこのテストを書くことにエネルギー質問を書かなければならない。これらは多分様々ぶらぶら過ごす時間、材料および記事のhath のペストによるthou を、また含んでいるが、様々な記事はこのテストによって可能こうして調査するべき結合エネルギー仮定する会議を幾分そこに妨げるである、これはすべてを組立てる間違った可能な用紙およびtoupees の除去からの用紙をテストするこれらの。I がカバーによって所有している、であるそこにの後のI の時間、時間を記録したり本当らしい波が余りにある正当な缶詰にされた食糧thumbtacks 飛行下げ振のタンブラーの問題の蟻の、従ってである非現実的知るべき外でない、衝動の記述ないので等しいために企業を整理する農場をなぜ保持するかそれはそれに大きいPoebel とそこに食べる時間、犬を、である示された下げ振、ソーセージ好む_ flay 1 日をある行くあり、激しくテストするとき、問題がないことを移住性鳥を突然交差させる3 への記述の衝動はhydromel の観察の外に、私知っていたある、より遅い意志は時間、それによってがそれすべて断念露出から減るべきである私はそれを狭いところのグウのすべてのホイによって望まれた計算遠隔午前中すべての空気すべて知らなかった当然な窓に観察し。

THEN JP TO ENG:
This is the writing test; As for this when in the period of another diversons with under you perhaps you think in period of writing and tho, using, in order to make the test and many vision because it is possible, decision the contour which can write is drawn. In regard to question it publishes it rearranges perhaps, that that you think, the time it must write energy question on writing this test with the text which is not the time important. These in addition include thou due to the Plague of hath of time, the material and the article which perhaps various wander are passed,, but the various articles possibility in this way with this test, the binding energy which it should investigate obstruct the meeting which is supposed somewhat there, is, these which test the possible paper and the paper from the removal of toupees where this assembles everything and makes a mistake. I hour and time after over there I it has owned with the cover, is are not recorded and/or the ant of problem of the tumbler of the food thumbtacks flight lowering swing which makes legitimate canned goods which the wave which truth seems the excessively are, non realistic therefore is it is not outside it should know, being there is no description of impulse, why you keep the farm where it rearranges enterprise because it is equal the lowering swing where that is and is shown Poebel which is large to that the time when you eat there, the dog, the sausage there is, when it goes to be, testing a _ flay 1 day which is liked extremely, there is no problem thing Impulse of description to 3 the immigration characteristic bird is made to cross suddenly had known outside the observation of hydromel, me, I a slower will where it is, should decrease time, with that from that all abandonment exposure, all air during the calculation remote morning which was desired that by all ホイ of グウ of the narrow place observe in the proper window which does not know entirely.

THEN ENG TO KR:
이것은 쓰기 시험 이다; 이것에 관해서는, 아래에 다른diversons의 기간안에 너가 쓰기와tho의 기간안에 아마 너 생각할 때 가능하기 때문에 시험을 만들 위하여, 그리고 많을 시각 사용할, 결정은 쓸 수 있는 윤곽선 인출해. 그것을 간행하는 질문에 관해서 아마, 너가 생각하는 저것, 중요한 시간이 아닌 원본에 이 시험을 쓰기에 에너지 질문을 써야 하는 시간 재정비한다. 이들은 더하여 시간, 물자의hath의 전염병에 만기가 되는thou을 포함하고 아마 각종 통과하는, 그러나 이 시험, 수사해야 저지하는 약간 거기서 가정하는 회의를, 이는, 곳에 이것이 모두를 조립하는 도읍어엇의 제거에서 가능한 종이 그리고 종이를 시험하는 이들 하는 결합 에너지에 이 방법안에 각종 기사 가능성이 방황하는 기사는 그리고 실수한다. 너가 이기 위하여 갈 때 너가 거기서 먹을 때 저것에 큰 시간, 개, 소시지 이는, 시험이 까 어느것이 저것이 있고Poebel을 보이는 곳에 동등하기 낮추기 그네 때문에 곳에 기업을 재정비하는 농장을 지키는 까 왜, 저기서 그것이 덮개에 소유한 나 후에i시간과 시간은, 기록하지 않는다 거기서의 그리고/또한 진실이 보이는 파가 과량으로 이는 현실주의 정당한 캔 제품을, 무 그런 까닭에 이다 그것 밖에 그것 한다 알아야 만들는 그네를 낮추는 음식 틈b닺ks 비행의 공이치기용수철의 문제의 개미 이다, 거기서 있음것은 전류의 묘사 _극단적으로 좋아하는 1 일을, 거기서 3에 있는가 묘사의 문제 것 전류 독특한 새가hydromel의 관측이상으로 급격하게 교차하기 위하여 있어있었었던 제작되는 이주, 나, 저 모든 각화 노출, 원한 계산 먼가 아침동안에 모든 공기에서 저것에I곳에 있는 더 느린 의지가, 시간을 줄여야 하는, 껍질을 벗기는가 모두에 의하여?? 의?? 좁은 장소의 전체로 모르는 적당한 창안에 관측하십시요.

THEN KR TO ENG:
This is the examination which it writes,; Regarding this, when on lower part inside duration of the different diversons you it is bitter with you thinking probably inside duration of the tho, it will make an examination because is possible to respect, and many time it will use, the decision withdrawl the outline which is the possibility of writing. Regarding the question which publishes it probably, that you think, it writes this examination the hour must write an energy question it rearranges in the original where is not the hour when it is important. These people more includes the thou where is expiration of time in infectious disease of the hath of hour and the material and various it passes probably, but this it must examine and must investigate and from some that place the conference which it assumes, this all capital U whom it assembles these people who examines the paper and the paper which are possible from crooked removal the article where the various article possibility wanders the inside this method in the binding energy which it does and makes a mistake in the place. In order you convenience when going, when you from that place eating, to that big hour, the dog and the sausage, the examination peeled and which thing was that and it defended the farm which because of the swing it is equal in the place which is visible lowers the Poebel rearranges the enterprise in the place to peel and why, from there had in this handguard of it or after the i hour and hour from that place they do not record and/also the green onion where the truth is visible realism was legitimate at excess amount, khayn the product, Only it is in nothing like that reason it it does to know and it will make the food gap b which lowers the swing tac it is an ant of problem of the tumbler of ks misconduct, is the being from that place depiction of electric current _ the 1st day which it likes extremely, from that place to 3 and problem thing electric current of depiction the bird which is unique above observing the hydromel to be sudden, in order to intersect it is being and the immigration which is produced to a I place, B and writing all abandonment exposure, it wants the calculation where it is distant during morning from all airs to that there is and a slower will, must reduce an hour, it peels the shell all by? ? ? ? Observe in the original idea which is suitable it does not know with the whole of narrow place.

THEN ENG TO RU:
Это будет рассмотрение оно пишет,; относительно этого, когда на нижней части внутри продолжительности по-разному diversons вы оно горьки при вы думая вероятно внутри продолжительности tho, они сделают рассмотрение потому что будет по возможности для уважения, и много время, котор оно будет использовать, withdrawl решения планом который будет возможность сочинительства. Относительно вопроса опубликовывает его вероятно, то, котор вы думаете, оно пишет это рассмотрение час должен написать вопрос о энергии он rearranges в оригинале где не час когда важно. Эти населяют больше вклюают thou где выдых времени в заразном заболевании hath часа и материал и различные оно проходит вероятно, но это, котор они должны рассмотреть и должны расследовать и от некоторого которое устанавливает конференцию которое оно принимает, этот полностью прописной у которому оно собирает эти людей которое рассматривает бумагу и бумагу которая по возможности от crooked удаления статья куда различная возможность статьи бродяжничает внутренность этот метод в binding энергии которой она делает и совершает ошибка в месте. В заказе вы удобство идя, когда вы от того места есть, к тому большому часу, собаку и сосиску, слезли рассмотрение, котор и которое вещь была тем и оно защитили ферму которая из-за качания она равна в месте которое видимо понижает Poebel rearranges предпринимательство в месте для того чтобы слезть и почему, от там имели в этом handguard их или после того как час I и час от того места они не записывает and/also зеленый onion где правдой будет видимый реализм была правомерна на сверхнормальном количестве, khayn продукт, только она будет в ничего как та причина оно, котор она делает знайте и оно сделает зазор б еды понижает качание tac, котор это будет муравеем проблемы tumbler misconduct ks, будет существованием от того живописания места электрического течения _ 1-ый день который он любит весьма, от того места до 3 и течение вещи проблемы электрическое живописания птица которая уникально над наблюдать hydromel для того чтобы быть неожиданна, для того чтобы пересечь его и иммиграция которая произведена к месту I, б и сочинительству вся выдержка затерянности, оно хочет вычисление где она дистантна во время утра от всех проветривает к тому там и более медленная воля, должна уменьшить час, она слезает раковину все мимо? ? ? ? Наблюдайте в первоначально идее целесообразна оно не знает с целым узкого места.

THEN RU TO ENG:
This will be examination it it writes,; relative to this, when on the lower part inside the duration differently diversons you it are bitter with you thinking probably inside duration tho, they will make because will be as far as possible for the respect, and is much time, it will which use, withdrawl solution plan which will be a possibility of writing. Relative to a question it publishes it you are probably, then, which you think, it writes this examination hour it must write a question about the energy it rearranges in the original where not hour when importantly. These populate more greatly tyuey vklyuayut thou where the expiration of time in the infectious disease hath of hour and materials and different it passes probably, but this, are which they they must examine but they must investigate and from a certain which establishes the conference which it assumes, this completely capital in to which it is gathered these of people which examines paper and paper which as far as possible from crooked removal article where different possibility of article it wanders interior this method in binding of energy of which it makes and it accomplishes error in place. In the order you convenience going, when you from that place there is, to that large hour, dog and the sausage, they descended the examination, it was which and which the thing was the fact and it protected farm which because of the rocking it it was equal in the place which it apparently reduces Poebel rearranges enterprise in the place in order to descend and why, from there had in this handguard they or after an hour I and hour from that place they do not write and/also green onion where the truth will be the visible realism was legitimate on an excess quantity, khayn product, only it will be in nothing as that reason it, it is which it makes know and it it will make clearance b of food it reduces rocking tac, it is which this there will be muraveyem of problem tumbler misconduct ks, will existence from that depiction of the place of electrical flow _ the 1st day which it it does love very, from that place to 3 and the flow of the thing of problem electrical of depiction the bird which uniquely above observe hydromel in order to be neozhidanna, in order to cross it and immigration that is produced to place I, b and writing entire endurance of abandonment, it does want calculation where it it is distant during the morning from all it does air to that there and slower will, it must decrease the hour, it does descend shell all by? ? ? ? Observe in initially the idea it is expedient it he does not know with whole of bottleneck.

List of my blog entries

• 2008 CANBERRA OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY (02 May 2008)
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