anita
Full Member
Posts: 134
Joined: Jun 6, 2012 8:57:42 GMT -8
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Post by anita on Oct 24, 2012 18:14:33 GMT -8
Has anyone found a utility that does a good job of translating your writings into a foreign language? I know of several online and offline translators, but don't think that I could trust any of them at this point. For me, the really sticky point would be slang.
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Post by Nathaniel Phillips on Oct 24, 2012 18:56:31 GMT -8
I would be very reluctant to trust a translation program with your books. Even without the slang, a literal translation would almost certainly contain errors and unfortunate content.
An example, when I was a kid, every General Motors car had the Fisher Coach Works logo on the door sill plates. It was a small coach with the slogan "Body by Fisher". Back in the 50's or 60's, someone at GM decided that they should translate that slogan into Spanish for their South and Central American markets. Someone at GM got out an English-to-Spanish dictionary and translated it. From that day one, every GM car sold in South and Central America had door sill plates that said (in Spanish) Corpse by Fisher.
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Post by Ted on Oct 24, 2012 20:20:08 GMT -8
Corpse by Fisher? That's too funny.
Anita, ask Mark at Smashwords if he or someone there knows of reliable human translators, and who are reasonably priced.
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anita
Full Member
Posts: 134
Joined: Jun 6, 2012 8:57:42 GMT -8
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Post by anita on Oct 26, 2012 4:26:13 GMT -8
Corpse by Fisher...Oh dear! That is quite unfortunate. I kind of figured that software would have issues, but I thought that I'd ask. I certainly wouldn't want an error like that in an erotic short story. It would take all of the fun out of it, unless someone died with a smile on his/face!
I might shoot an email to Mark, Ted. I don't know...It was just an idea that I had to expand my sales to people that do not speak English very well. I don't know if it would make sense financially for me to pay someone to do the translation...
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Post by Ted on Oct 26, 2012 4:42:54 GMT -8
Anita, I agree the cost/benefit ratio for translating a work may not always be positive on the benefit side.
I would think English language based erotic short stories in non-English speaking countries would be popular in some age groups as a way to learn English.
(An aside; I need to go for coffee. I've removed three 'that' from my posts this morning as they weren't necessary. Sheesh. Plus, I probably missed other 'that' or unnecessary words. Now hold on a minute, please recall I'm coffee deprived this morning and allow a little lenience before thinking all my words were unnecessary.)
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anita
Full Member
Posts: 134
Joined: Jun 6, 2012 8:57:42 GMT -8
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Post by anita on Oct 27, 2012 12:30:03 GMT -8
Hmmm...Maybe I should check out the Busuu website and figure out if there is a way to direct people to my wares. Thanks for the idea, Ted!
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