Translation Software
Jul 3, 2008 | 8:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 16
Translation Software
I've been using Google translation to read all sorts of interesting Chinese websites, but I seem not to be able to grab the text and paste it elsewhere. Plus if the webpage is too big, it only translates the first chunk.
Is there a commerical product for this? Interested in both Cantonese and Mandarin...
thanks much
Is there a commerical product for this? Interested in both Cantonese and Mandarin...
thanks much
Jul 4, 2008 | 4:49 pm
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,492
As far as your question is concerned, I don't know of any commercial products that are able to perform nice translations, but there are some pretty good dictionary sites out there that are useful for looking up individual terms.
Jul 8, 2008 | 7:55 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Derbyshire, UK
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 520
moondog's right re translation...you have a few options:
1) Ue google
2) Use a website like I use called www.adsotrans.com This translates better than google but it will only do chunks at a time
3) Learn Chinese
not sure about moondog's idea that written Cantonese and Mandarin are almost the same. HK Cantonese speaking uses traditional characters rather than simplified. Try getting a mainlander to read traditional characters...they have an idea of the meaning but it's quite different
1) Ue google
2) Use a website like I use called www.adsotrans.com This translates better than google but it will only do chunks at a time
3) Learn Chinese
not sure about moondog's idea that written Cantonese and Mandarin are almost the same. HK Cantonese speaking uses traditional characters rather than simplified. Try getting a mainlander to read traditional characters...they have an idea of the meaning but it's quite different
Jul 9, 2008 | 9:56 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YYZ, PVG
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Ex-UA-1K
Posts: 430
I second giving adsotrans a try if you're looking for something free.
Just a note though, if you're trying to translate anything technical or even somewhat complex in any way, no software is going to be able to spit out exactly what you want. And yes, although the meaning is usually the same between traditional and simplified Chinese, parts can look quite different i.e.
I need this translated right now.
我需要这个翻译的权利。(simplified)
我需要這個翻譯的權利。(traditional)
And of course, if you reverse translate, you get -
"I need this translation rights."
So if possible, don't depend on just translate software for Chinese-English, English-Chinese translation.
Just a note though, if you're trying to translate anything technical or even somewhat complex in any way, no software is going to be able to spit out exactly what you want. And yes, although the meaning is usually the same between traditional and simplified Chinese, parts can look quite different i.e.
I need this translated right now.
我需要这个翻译的权利。(simplified)
我需要這個翻譯的權利。(traditional)
And of course, if you reverse translate, you get -
"I need this translation rights."
So if possible, don't depend on just translate software for Chinese-English, English-Chinese translation.
Jul 10, 2008 | 10:28 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Kam Leng; Two Dragons GH
Posts: 1,615
Just to comment that a useful tool is to send the Chinese text as a Google Talk instant message to [email protected]
English to Chinese is [email protected] (Don't expect perfection.)
English to Chinese is [email protected] (Don't expect perfection.)