Google English/Thai translation app ...

[Smiles]

Tested out the Google Translate application today. << http://translate.google.com/translate_t# >>
Copied a paragraph from this Forum (originally from the recent post about Phang Na by Trongpai) into the "English to Thai" compose window. Then took the Thai translation and did the opposite, i.e. translated it back into English.

The results were actually pretty good in the first part of the paragraph, but the translation seems to lose it's way in the second half.
The original paragraph was not overly complicated, but by no means a simple one. Some of the phrases used would normally be thought of as for english speakers only, and that kind of writing is often difficult for automatic translators. The translation did not like the words 'ravaged' or 'German'
What do you think?


(1) THE ORIGNAL ENGLISH PARAGRAPH

" ... The lack of tourist is probably due to three reasons. One, it's low season. There was some rain but it does not generally rain all day. Second, although resorts have sprung up like mushrooms over the once tsunami ravaged coast, there's more resorts than demand right now. Finally, Phang-Nga has no night life. Phuket attracts those in search of a party, boys, girls and or just drinking. Phang Nga reminds me more of Hua Hin but less developed and more rugged. It sure attracts the well nourished middle aged German couples. They're harmless enough and don't seem do much more than get picked up at the airport, deposited on a resort and then they do the beach, the pool and eat. We did not notice any PLU but even though these Germans don't smile a lot, some seem to have a frozen frown on their face but we were mostly ignored by them. ... "



(2) THE THAI TRANSLATION

" ... р╕Вр╕▓р╕Фр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕� �р╣Ир╕нр╕Зр╣Ар╕Чр╕╡р╣� �р╕вр╕зр╕нр╕▓р╕Ир╕Ир╕� ��р╣Ар╕Щр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Зр╕ Ир╕▓р╕Бр╣Ар╕лр╕Хр╕╕р� �Ьр╕ер╕кр╕▓р╕б. р╕лр╕Щр╕╢р╣Ир╕Зр╕Бр╣З р╕Хр╣Ир╕│р╕др╕Фр╕╣. р╕бр╕╡р╕Эр╕Щр╕Ър╕▓р╕� �р╣Бр╕Хр╣Ир╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕Ы р╕Бр╕Хр╕┤р╕Эр╕Щр╕Чр╕� �р╕Бр╕зр╕▒р╕Щ. р╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕кр╕нр╕Зр╣Б р╕бр╣Йр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕гр╕� �р╕кр╕нр╕гр╣Мр╕Чр╣Др╕Ф р╣Йр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Др╕Фр╣Й р╣Ар╕Фр╣Йр╕Зр╣Бр╕ер╣Й� �╕зр╕Вр╕╢р╣Йр╕Щр╣Ар╕К� �╣Ир╕Щр╣Ар╕лр╣Зр╕Фр╣Ар ╕лр╕Щр╕╖р╕нр╣Ар╕бр╕╖� �╣Ир╕нр╕кр╕╢р╕Щр╕▓р╕б р╕┤ ravaged р╣Вр╕Др╕кр╕Хр╣М, р╕бр╕╡р╕бр╕▓р╕Бр╕Бр╕� �р╣Ир╕▓р╕гр╕╡р╕кр╕нр╕ гр╣Мр╕Чр╕Бр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕ нр╕╕р╕Ыр╕кр╕Зр╕Др╣Мр╣ Гр╕Щр╕Вр╕Ур╕░р╕Щр╕╡р� �Й. р╕кр╕╕р╕Фр╕Чр╣Йр╕▓р╕� �р╕Юр╕▒р╕Зр╕Зр╕▓р╣Др╕ бр╣Ир╕бр╕╡р╕Кр╕╡р╕зр� �┤р╕Хр╕Бр╕ер╕▓р╕Зр╕Др� ��╖р╕Щ. р╕ар╕╣р╣Ар╕Бр╣Зр╕Хр╕Ф р╕╢р╕Зр╕Фр╕╣р╕Фр╕Ър╕� �р╕гр╕Фр╕▓р╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕ Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Гр╕Щр╕Бр╕▓р� �гр╕Др╣Йр╕Щр╕лр╕▓р╕Вр� �нр╕Зр╕ар╕▓р╕Др╕╡р╕Кр� ��▓р╕в, р╕лр╕Нр╕┤р╕Зр╣Бр╕ер╕� �р╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╣Ар╕Юр╕� ��р╕вр╕Зр╕Фр╕╖р╣Ир╕б. р╕Юр╕▒р╕Зр╕Зр╕▓р╣Бр╕� �р╣Йр╕Зр╣Ар╕Хр╕╖р╕нр╕� �р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕бр╕▓р╕Бр╕ Бр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕лр╕▒р╕зр� �лр╕┤р╕Щр╣Бр╕Хр╣Ир╕Щр� �Йр╕нр╕вр╕Юр╕▒р╕Тр╕Щр� �▓р╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕нр╕╖р╣Ир ╕Щр╣Жр╕Вр╕гр╕╕р╕Вр╕гр ╕░. р╕бр╕▒р╕Щр╣Бр╕Щр╣Ир╣Г р╕Ир╕Фр╕╢р╕Зр╕Фр╕╣р╕� �р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕б nourished р╕Бр╕ер╕▓р╕Зр╕нр╕▓р╕� �р╕╕р╣Ар╕вр╕нр╕гр╕бр╕� ��р╕Щр╕кр╕▒р╕бр╕бр╕Щр╕ ▓р╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╕Др╕╣р� ��Ир╕гр╕▒р╕Б. р╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Ир╕░р╣Др╕� �р╣Ир╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕нр╕� �р╕Щр╕Хр╕гр╕▓р╕вр╕бр╕� ��р╕Бр╕Юр╕нр╣Бр╕ер╕░р╣ Др╕бр╣Ир╕Фр╕╣р╣Ар╕лр╕ бр╕╖р╕нр╕Щр╕Чр╕│р╕бр� �▓р╕Бр╕Бр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕гр� ��▒р╕Ър╣Ар╕ер╕╖р╕нр╕Бр ╕Вр╕╢р╣Йр╕Щр╕Чр╕╡р╣И� �╕кр╕Щр╕▓р╕бр╕Ър╕┤р╕Щ р╣Ар╕Зр╕┤р╕Щр╣Гр╕Щр╕г р╕╡р╕кр╕нр╕гр╣Мр╕Чр╣Б р╕ер╣Йр╕зр╕Юр╕зр╕Бр╣А� �╕Вр╕▓р╕Бр╕гр╕░р╕Чр╕� �р╕Кр╕▓р╕вр╕лр╕▓р╕Фр╣ Бр╕ер╕░р╕кр╕гр╕░р╕зр� �Ир╕▓р╕вр╕Щр╣Йр╕│р╣Бр� ��ер╕░р╕Бр╕┤р╕Щ. р╣Ар╕гр╕▓р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕Х р╣Йр╕нр╕Зр╣Бр╕Ир╣Йр╕З� �╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Чр╕гр╕▓р╕Ъ� �╕ер╣Ир╕зр╕Зр╕лр╕Щр╣Йр ╕▓р╣Гр╕Ф PLU р╣Бр╕Хр╣Ир╣Бр╕бр╣Йр╕з� �╣Ир╕▓р╣Ар╕лр╕ер╣Ир╕▓ р╕Щр╕╡р╣Й Germans р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕вр╕┤р╣Йр╕б р╕бр╕▓р╕Бр╕Ър╕▓р╕Зр╕� �р╕╣р╣Ар╕лр╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕ Щр╕бр╕╡р╣Бр╕Кр╣Ир╣Бр╕ Вр╣Зр╕Зр╕Вр╕бр╕зр╕Фр╕� �р╕Щр╣Гр╕Ър╕лр╕Щр╣Йр╕� �р╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Юр╕зр╕Бр╣А р╕Вр╕▓р╣Бр╕Хр╣Ир╕кр╣И р╕зр╕Щр╣Гр╕лр╕Нр╣Ир╕Ч� �╕╡р╣Ир╣Ар╕гр╕▓р╣Др╕Ф р╣Й р╕Цр╕╣р╕Бр╕Ыр╕Пр╕┤р╣� �р╕кр╕Шр╣Вр╕Фр╕вр╕Юр╕з р╕Бр╣Ар╕Вр╕▓. ... "


(3) THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION BACK FROM THE THAI VERSION

" ... Lack of travel may be three reasons. One is low season. Some rain but not a normal daily grind. Though the two resorts have sprung up like mushrooms over the tsunami ravaged the Coast, a resort more than demand right now. Nga dead last night. Phuket attracts those in search of partners men, women, or just drink. Nga alert me but less developed than Hua Hin and other rough It sure attracts a middle age nourished German seminar or sweetheart. And is not dangerous enough and do not seem chosen more than the airport Money then they do in the beach resort and swimming pool and eat. We did not notice any PLU, but even if these Germans do not smile much seems certain is frozen frown on their faces, but most of us. They declined. ... "

[Smiles]

I tried this again with a quote copied from a post by Bao Bao. Trongpai's post included too many colloquialisms which hardly ever translate very well. Bao Bao's paragraph is more straighforward, contains more 'basic' english words, and thus is probably a better test case.


(1) Original english

" ... IтАЩm now involved with the futures of three students, all of whom IтАЩve met and had a chance to spend an afternoon with. Each has been taken out for lunch and a shopping trip (accompanied by Liz and another staff member or three) and IтАЩll tell you, money canтАЩt buy the feeling you get seeing the smiles on kidтАЩs faces while picking out their own socks, shoes, shirts, shorts, underwear and food staples for their family тАУ things we take for granted, but luxuries for those living hand-to-mouth lives in humble dwellings.

There are needy students at all grade levels, and they need your help now. With the global financial challenges help is needed this year more than others. Please give it some consideration тАУ and if you have other questions, PM me and IтАЩll do my best to try to help with answers ... "


(2) Traslation into Thai

" ... р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щ р╣Ар╕Фр╕╡р╣Лр╕вр╕зр╕Щ р╕╡р╣Йр╣Ар╕Бр╕╡р╣Ир╕� �р╕зр╕Вр╣Йр╕нр╕Зр╕Бр╕� �р╕Ър╕ер╣Ир╕зр╕Зр╕лр╕Щ р╣Йр╕▓р╕кр╕▓р╕бр╕Щр╕� ��р╕Бр╣Ар╕гр╕╡р╕вр╕Щр╕ Чр╕▒р╣Йр╕Зр╕лр╕бр╕Фр╕ Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕Лр╕ ╢р╣Ир╕Зр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Др� �Фр╣Йр╕Юр╕Ър╣Бр╕ер╕░р� �бр╕╡ р╣Вр╕нр╕Бр╕▓р╕кр╕Чр╕� �р╣Ир╕Ир╕░р╕бр╕╡р╕Бр╕ ▓р╕гр╣Гр╕Кр╣Йр╕Ир╣Ир╕ ▓р╕вр╕Ър╣Ир╕▓р╕вр╕Бр� �▒р╕Ъ. р╣Бр╕Хр╣Ир╕ер╕░р╕Цр╕� �р╕Бр╣Ар╕нр╕▓р╕нр╕нр╕� �р╕кр╕│р╕лр╕гр╕▒р╕Ър╕ бр╕╖р╣Йр╕нр╕Бр╕ер╕▓р� �Зр╕зр╕▒р╕Щр╣Бр╕ер╕░р� ��Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕бр╕╡р╕гр╣Йр ╕▓р╕Щр╕Др╣Йр╕▓р╣Ар╕Ф� �╕┤р╕Щр╕Чр╕▓р╕З (р╕Юр╕гр╣Йр╕нр╕бр╣Вр╕Ф р╕в Liz р╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕кр╕бр╕▓р╕� �р╕┤р╕Бр╕нр╕╖р╣Ир╕Щр╕ лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╣Ар╕Ир╣Йр╕ ▓р╕лр╕Щр╣Йр╕▓р╕Чр╕╡р� ��Ир╕кр╕▓р╕б) р╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕� �р╕░р╕Ър╕нр╕Бр╣Гр╕лр╣� �р╕Чр╣Ир╕▓р╕Щр╕Чр╕гр╕� ��р╕Ър╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╣Ар╕Зр╕ ┤р╕Щр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕кр╕▓р� �бр╕▓р╕гр╕Цр╕Лр╕╖р╣Йр� ��нр╕гр╕╣р╣Йр╕кр╕╢р╕Бр ╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕гр ╕▒р╕Ър╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Ар╕л� �╣Зр╕Щр╕гр╕нр╕вр╕вр╕┤� �╣Йр╕б р╕Ър╕Щр╣Гр╕Ър╕лр╕Щр╣Й� �╕▓р╣Ар╕кр╕гр╕┤р╕бр╕к р╕зр╕вр╕лр╕вр╕┤р╕Ър╕н р╕нр╕Бр╣Гр╕Щр╕Вр╕Ур╕░ р╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Х р╕Щр╣Ар╕нр╕Зр╕Цр╕╕р╕З р╣Ар╕Чр╣Йр╕▓ , р╕гр╕нр╕Зр╣Ар╕Чр╣Йр╕▓ р╣Ар╕кр╕╖р╣Йр╕нр╕вр╕� �р╕Фр╕Бр╕▓р╕Зр╣Ар╕Бр╕� �р╕Вр╕▓р╕кр╕▒р╣Йр╕Щ, р╕вр╕Бр╕Чр╕гр╕Зр╣Бр╕е� �╕░р╕нр╕▓р╕лр╕▓р╕г staples р╕кр╕│р╕лр╕гр╕▒р╕Ър╕� �р╕гр╕нр╕Ър╕Др╕гр╕▒р╕� � - р╕кр╕┤р╣Ир╕Зр╕Чр╕╡р╣� �р╣Ар╕гр╕▓р╣Вр╕бр╣Ар╕� �р╣Бр╕Хр╣Ир╕кр╕┤р╕Щр╕� �р╣Йр╕▓р╕Яр╕╕р╣Ир╕бр╣ Ар╕Яр╕╖р╕нр╕вр╕кр╕│р� �лр╕гр╕▒р╕Ър╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр� ��Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕нр╕▓р╕ир╕▒� �╕вр╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣Ир╕бр╕╖ р╕нр╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Ы р╕▓р╕Бр╕Кр╕╡р╕зр╕┤р╕ Хр╣Гр╕Щ р╕Щр╕нр╕Ър╕Щр╣Йр╕нр╕б� �╕Ър╣Йр╕▓р╕Щ.

р╕бр╕╡р╕Щр╕▒р╕Бр╣Ар╕� �р╕╡р╕вр╕Щр╕вр╕▓р╕Бр╕ Ир╕Щр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Чр╕╕р� �Бр╣Ар╕Бр╕гр╕Фр╕гр╕░р� �Фр╕▒р╕Ър╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Юр� ��зр╕Бр╣Ар╕Вр╕▓р╕Хр╣Йр� ��нр╕Зр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Др╕зр� ��▓р╕бр╕Кр╣Ир╕зр╕вр╣Ар� ��лр╕ер╕╖р╕нр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр� ��Др╕╕р╕Ур╕Вр╕Ур╕░р╕Щр ╕╡р╣Й. р╕Чр╕▒р╣Ир╕зр╣Вр╕ер╕Б р╕Фр╣Йр╕зр╕вр╕Др╕зр╕▓ р╕бр╕Чр╣Йр╕▓р╕Чр╕▓р╕� �р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕Кр╣Ир╕� �р╕вр╣Ар╕лр╕ер╕╖р╕нр╕� �р╕▓р╕Зр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Ар╕ Зр╕┤р╕Щр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕ кр╕┤р╣Ир╕Зр╕Ир╕│р╣Ар� �Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╣Гр╕Щр╕Ыр╕╡р� �Щр╕╡р╣Йр╕Бр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р� ��Др╕Щ р╕нр╕╖р╣Ир╕Щр╣Ж. р╕Бр╕гр╕╕р╕Ур╕▓р╕Ър╕� ��р╕Зр╕Юр╕┤р╕Ир╕▓р╕гр� �Ур╕▓ - р╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕лр╕▓р╕Бр╕� �р╕╕р╕Ур╕бр╕╡р╕Др╕│р� �Цр╕▓р╕бр╕нр╕╖р╣Ир╕Щр� ��Щ. р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕� �р╕▒р╕Щр╕Ир╕░р╕Фр╕│р� �Ар╕Щр╕┤р╕Щр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр� ��Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Фр╕╡р╕Чр╕╡� �╣Ир╕кр╕╕р╕Фр╕Вр╕нр╕З� �╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣И р╕нр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Др╕зр╕▓ р╕бр╕Кр╣Ир╕зр╕вр╣Ар╕л� �╕ер╕╖р╕нр╣Ар╕Бр╕╡р╣И р╕вр╕зр╕Бр╕▒р╕Ър╕Др╕� � р╕Хр╕нр╕Ъ ... "


(3) Thai back to English

" ... Now I relate to all students in advance of the three who I found and have opportunity to spend the afternoon. Each was removed for lunch and a shopping trip (along with Liz and other members or third) and I will tell you that money can not buy you feel has been seen smile on the face while the kid pick out their own socks, shoes, shirts, shorts, underwear and food staples for the family - but what we take for granted luxuries for people living hand to mouth life in the humble home.

A poor student at all grade levels and they need your help now. Global challenges with the financial assistance is needed in this year than others, please consider some - and if you have other questions. (PM) Me and I'll do my best to help with answers ... "

[krobbie]

Personally I think it isn't too bad.

I have this web site bookmarked as there are things that come up from time to time that I need translated. Usually only a few words and for that it seems very good.

Cheers
krobbie

I have recommended the use of Google translate on another Board. One feature I like is that if you come across a web page in Thai, you can copy the URL and paste into Google translate - when you select translate from Thai into English, Google translate will give you a translated version of the web page - usually a fairly good translation.

It seems to work quite well for simple sentences - as mentioned, more complex sentences and colloquialism does not translate well. Also, if using it to compose a message in English to be translated into Thai script (e.g., in preparation of copying it into an email to your Thai friend(s)), it is a good idea to first have Google translate it back into English - as they say, "something was lost in the translation."

I also used it to translate some German cooking instructions on a package of Potato Pancake mix I picked up at Foodland - it did not give me a great translation from German to English, but it was sufficient for me to make the pancakes (I didn't quite figure out why it wanted me to add an egg if I was at the airport, but I decided to add it even though I was only in my kitchen -- :-) )

[thrillbill]

So... if my Thai bf wants to send me an email (in Thai) and need a website tool to translate it, could the google one be used or is the Google translator only for translating its own articles? I think I read once of a site that can translate Thai into English--- but forgot the website.

My Thai bf speaks "ok" English (certainly knows more English words than I know Thai). He wants to learn how to use the computer and I think if he could send me some emails (in Thai) then the internet would be more fun for him. (I'd then have his thai messages translated). My Thai bf has never used the internet and I think he is totally unaware of all the Thai websights out there for him to use. He loves to read for information, so I can see him getting hooked on Google or some other site.