Telephone: The Translation Game

categories: Cocktail Hour

9 comments

I’m thinking about foreign-language editions of my books, including a Japanese version of Writing Life Stories.  My friend Lily Funahashi read it in both languages and said that the Japanese was much, much different.  For one thing, they’d swapped out my friendly, conversational, demotic tone for a formal diction–the voice used between teachers and students.  They’d also removed any overly friendly storytelling.  So where I’d say, “Try getting up in the morning for the next few weeks and free writing for ten minutes while you’re still half-dreaming.”  They’d say: “You will get up early and write ten minutes daily for three weeks to clear your mind.”

.     Anyway, I thought I’d run a paragraph from my new novel, LIFE AMONG GIANTS, back and forth through various translation services and see how meanings might shift.  These are machine translations, and really pretty amazing–no criticism is implied (though I will say Google and Babylon are the fastest and easiest of those I found).  It’s just that over the course of re-translation, the little shifts in meaning are amplified.  Like the game we used to play in school: telephone.  Remember that?  You whisper the phrase the teacher gave you into the next kid’s ear and around the room it goes, losing words, gaining phrases.

My paragraph started as a paean, ends as a prayer, Jesus and all, various cultural additions along with mere language, and a kind of truth arising:

The original, from page one of LIFE AMONG GIANTS:

My father told me I could do what I set my mind to, though it hadn’t been true for him.  Mom told me not to expect everything to go my way, probably because of her own bad luck with Dad.  She wasn’t a mom to coddle you; she thought once you were ten you could make lunch for yourself.  And we did, Katy and I, wild inventions, often edible.  Dad ate what we offered, never a complaint.

Translation Babylon to French:

Mon père m’a dit que je pouvais faire ce que j’ai mis mon esprit, même si elle n’avait pas été vrai pour lui. Maman m’a dit de ne pas tout attendre de passer mon chemin, probablement à cause de son propre malheur avec papa. Elle n’était pas une maman à gâtons vous; elle a pensé une fois que vous avez été dix vous pourrait faire déjeuner pour vous-même. Et nous n’avons, Katy et je sauvages, inventions, souvent comestibles. Papa a mangé ce que nous avons offert, jamais une plainte.

Reverso back to English:

My father said to me that I could make that I put my spirit, even if she(it) had not been true for him. Mom told me not to wait for everything to cross(spend) my path(way), probably because of her own misfortune with dad. She was not a mom in let us spoil you; she thought when you were could ten to you make have lunch for yourself. And we have, Katy and I savages, inventions, often edible. Dad ate what we offered, never a complaint.

Google translate to Turkish

Babam o (o) onun için gerçek olmasaydı bile ben, ruhumu koymak getirebileceğimi bana söyledi. Annem her şeyi geçmek için (harcama) beklemek değil bana muhtemelen çünkü babası ile kendi talihsizlik benim yolu (yol),. O bize yağma izin bir anne değildi, sen yapmak on kendiniz için öğle olabilir iken diye düşündü. Ve biz, Katy ve ben vahşiler, buluşlar, genellikle yenilebilir var. Babam bir şikayet, asla ne teklif yedik.

Im Translate back to English

My father o (o) even had it not been for him, i put it into my spirit getirebileceğimi said that to me. My mum to go to all the things (nature) is not necessary to wait for their own bad luck with his father to me probably because my path (road) ,.  Allow us the loot was not a mother, and you may have to make lunch for yourself with ten he thought. And we are part of the Katy and i am vahşiler, inventions, are generally edible. One of my Father, never what we had offered.

Babylon to Italian

Mio padre o (o) anche se non fosse stato per lui, ho messo nel mio spirito getirebileceğimi detto che a me. La mia mamma per andare a tutte le cose (natura) non è necessario attendere per loro sfortuna con il padre a me probabilmente perché la mia strada (road) ,. Ci permettono il bottino non era una madre, e si può fare pranzo con dieci pensava. E noi siamo parte di Katy e sto vahşiler, invenzioni, sono generalmente commestibile. Uno di mio padre, non ciò che ci aveva offerto.

Smart Link to English

My father or even if it wasn’t for him, I put in my getirebileceğimi spirit said to me. My MOM to go to all things (nature) you don’t have to wait for their misfortune with his father to me because my road. We allow the loot wasn’t a mother, and we can do lunch with ten thought. And we are part of Katy and I’m vahşiler, inventions, are generally edible. One of my dad, not what we had offered.

Translation cloud into Latvian

Mans tēvs vai pat tad, ja tas nav par viņu, man ir mans getirebileceğimi gars man sacīja. Mana mamma iet visas lietas (dabu), jums nav jāgaida, lai to nelaimi ar savu tēvu, man jo mans ceļš. Mēs ļaujam laupīt nebija mātes, un mēs varam darīt, pusdienas ar desmit doma. Un mēs esam daļa no Katy, un es esmu vahşiler, izgudrojumu, ir parasti ēdami. Viens no tēta, ne to, ko mums piedāvāja.

Bing Star

My father, or even if it was not for him, I have my getirebileceğim spirit said to me. My Mom goes all things (nature), you don’t have to wait for their unhappiness with his father, me in my path. We let Rob was not the mother, and we can do lunch with ten. And we’re part of the Katy and I’m a vahşiler, an invention is generally edible. One of my dad, not what we have to offer.

Babylon to Japanese

私 の父も、彼のいない場合は、私には私のgetirebileceğim精神を持ってます。 私のお母さん(自然)すべての事が、彼の父親は、私のパスにしてくれとの不幸を待機する必要はありません。 私たちは、Robは、母ませんでしたし、私たちは、昼食にしてすることができます。 とは、ケイティの一部であると私はvahşiler選んだら、発明は一般に食用されています。 私のお父さんのいない私達は提供しています。

Google translate to English

Also my father, if not of him, I have my spirit getirebileceğim. It (nature) of all my mother, his father, there is no need to wait for the misfortunes and me to my path. The Rob, I could not Mase mother, we, we, can be set to lunch. Chosen vahşiler, and, I present is generally edible to be a part of Katie. Us without a father I have to offer.

Google to Yiddish

אויך מיין פאטער, אויב נישט פון אים, איך האב מיין גייסט געטירעבילעסעğים. עס (נאַטור) פון אַלע מיין מוטער, זייַן פאטער, עס איז ניט דאַרפֿן צו וואַרטן פֿאַר די מיספאָרטשאַנז און מיר צו מיין דרך. דער ראָב, איך קען נישט מייז מוטער, מיר, מיר, קענען זייַן שטעלן צו לאָנטש. אויסדערוויילט וואַהşילער, און, איך פאָרשטעלן איז בכלל צומ עסן צו זייַן אַ טייל פון קאַטיע. אונדז אָן אַ פאטער איך האָבן צו פאָרשלאָגן.

Google back (no others worked)

Also my father, if not by him, I have my mind getirebilese ğ sea. It (behavior) of all my mother, his father, there is no need to wait for the Misfortunes and me to my path. The raven, I can not maize parent, we, we, can be set to lunch. Chosen vos ş forest, and I represent is generally edible to be a part of Katie. Us without a father I have to offer.

World languages to Latvian

Ankaŭ mia patro, se ne de li, mi havas mian menson getirebilese g maro. Ĝi (konduto) de ĉiuj miaj patrino, lia patro, ne estas neceso por atendi la akcidentoj kaj min por mia vojo. La korvo, mi ne povas maizo patro, ni, ni, povas esti aro al tagmanĝo. Elektitaj vos kgm arbaro, kaj mi reprezentas ĝenerale estas manĝeblaj esti parto de Katie. Ni sen patro mi devas proponi.

Google Straight to Norwegian

Også min far, om ikke av ham, jeg har mitt sinn getirebilese g havet. Det (atferd) av alle min mor, hans far, det er ikke nødvendig å vente på ulykker og meg til min sti. Kråke, jeg kan ikke mais far, vi, oss, kan settes til lunsj. Valgt deg oblast skog, og jeg antar de er generelt spiselig for å være en del av Katie. Vi uten en far jeg har å tilby.

Babylon

Also my father, if not by him, I have my mind getirebilese g sea. The (behavior) of all my mother, his father, it is not necessary to wait for accidents and me to my path. Crow landed, I can not maize father, we, us, can be set for lunch. Selected you province forest, and I assume they are generally palatable to be a part of Katie. We’re without a father I have to offer.

Free Translation.com to Spanish

También mi padre, si no por él, yo tengo mi mar de getirebilese G de mente. El (conducta) de toda mi madre, su padre, no es necesario para esperar accidentes y mí a mi sendero. El cuervo aterrizó, puedo no padre de maíz, nosotros, nosotros, podemos ser puestos para almorzar. Seleccionado usted bosque de provincia, y yo asume que son generalmente sabrosos ser una parte de Katie. Estamos sin un padre que tengo que ofrecer.

Babylon

Also my father, if not by him, I have my sea of getirebilese G mind. The (conduct) of all my mother, father, it is not necessary to wait for accidents and my to my path. The crow landed, i can not father of corn, we, us, we can be posts for lunch. You selected forest of province, and I assume that they are usually be a tasty part of Katie. We are without a father that i have to offer.

Bing to Russian

Также мой отец, если не по его словам, у меня есть мое море getirebilese G разума. (Поведение) моя мать, отец, не стоит ждать аварий и моя стезе моей. Ворона приземлился, я не могу отец кукуруза, мы, нас, мы можем быть должности на обед. Вы выбрали лесной провинции, и я предполагаю, что они обычно быть вкусным частью Кэти. Мы являемся без отца, что я должен предложить.

Reverso

As well my father, if not according to him, I have my sea getirebilese G reason. (Behaviour) my mother, father, is not worth to wait for break-downs and my to the path of my. Crow was landed, I cannot father corn, we, us, we can be of the position to dinner. You chose of timber province, and I assume that they to be usually tasty by a part of Ke’ti. We are without father that I should offer.

Google to Swahili

Kama vile baba yangu, kama si kulingana na Yesu, nina bahari yangu getirebilese G sababu. (Tabia) mama yangu, baba, si thamani ya kusubiri kwa kuvunja Downs-na wangu kwa njia ya yangu. Crow alikuwa nanga, siwezi baba nafaka, sisi, sisi, tunaweza kuuliza wa nafasi ya chakula cha jioni. Alichagua mkoa wa mbao, na mimi assum kwamba kwa kawaida kuuliza mbili kitamu na chama cha Ke’ti. Sisi ni bila baba niwe dhabihu.

Google back:

As my father, if not according to Jesus, I have my sea G getirebilese reason. (Character) my mother, father, not worth the wait for my break downs-and through me. Crow had landed, I can not father Grain, we, we, we can ask the place for dinner. Chose province wood, and I assum that they usually ask two tasty and Ke’ti party. We are without a father be sacrificed.

Stars 21 to Icelandic

Eins og faðir minn, ef ekki samkvæmt Jesú, ég hef sjó G getirebilese mína ástæðu. (Character) móðir mín, faðir, virði ekki bíða fyrir brot mitt Downs-og í gegnum mig. Crow hafði lent, Ég get ekki faðir korni, að við getum beðið í stað í kvöldmat. Valdi hérað viði, og ég assum sem þeir biðja yfirleitt tvær bragðgóður og Ke’ti aðila. Við erum án faðir vera fórnað.

Google

Like my father, if not according to Jesus, I have my sea G getirebilese reason. (Character), my mother, father, not worth waiting for my break Down and through me. Crow had landed, I can not father, so that we can ask instead for dinner. Chose province wood, and I Asshur they usually ask two tasty and Ke’ti party. We are without a father be sacrificed.

Babylon to German

Wie mein Vater, wenn nicht nach Jesus, ich habe mein Meer G getirebilese Grund. (Zeichen), meine Mutter, Vater, nicht warten wert Meine durchbrechen und durch mich. Crow gelandet waren, kann ich nicht Vater, so dass wir statt dessen Fragen zum Abendessen. Wählen Provinz Holz, Assur und ich sie normalerweise fragen zwei lecker und Ke’ti Partei. Wir sind ohne Vater geopfert werden.

Free Translation.com

How my father, if after Jesus, I my sea have not G getirebilese reason.  (Sign), my mother, father, mine do not wait break through appraise and through me.  Crow landed were, can I not father so that we instead of its questions to the supper.  Wood, Assur and I select ask province it normally two deliciously and Ke’ ti party.  We are sacrificed become without father.

And here’s the original again:

My father told me I could do what I set my mind to, though it hadn’t been true for him.  Mom told me not to expect everything to go my way, probably because of her own bad luck with Dad.  She wasn’t a mom to coddle you; she thought once you were ten you could make lunch for yourself.  And we did, Katy and I, wild inventions, often edible.  Dad ate what we offered, never a complaint.