Translation Site

[Thomas Colin]

  I've just tried this weird electronic translator, hoping while I was 
writing my little test sentence (in English) that the translation (in 
French) would be ridiculously crippled, wobbly: the product of a machine 
with no true linguistic skills, no sensibility. I hate the thought that 
machines could be more intelligent than me (and do think that translation 
-as opposed to playing chess, for instance- is a really intellectual 
activity).
  Well, fortunately enough, the result *was* crippled and made little sense. 
But not as imperfect and flawed as what I explected... so I'm still not sure 
whether I should be disturbed or not. It is indeed quite impressive.
  Best,
Tom.
PS: correction. I just tried to see how this thing translated the first two 
sentences of GR. result: "Un cri rencontre le ciel par hasard. Il s'est 
passe auparavant, mais il n'y a rien pour le comparer maintenant a," which I 
can only define as dadaist concrete poetry...
PS2: still, I understand it's very useful to find a quick translation for a 
word. Unfortunately languages are also about syntax.

>From: "HMus" <scuffling at hotmail.com>
>To: "Pynchon List" <pynchon-l at waste.org>
>Subject: Translation Site
>Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 11:24:51 -0500
>
>Best I've seen on the WWW:
>
>http://translate.lhsl.com/lhsl/
>
>ICQ #30741850
>
>Check out the most eclectic music station on the net:
>http://radio.sonicnet.com/mymusiclisten.asp?name=cyberia
>
>Keep cool, but care.
>
>AsB4,
>
>HMus Scuff
>
>

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