Hi all,
As I mentioned in a previous post, I am going to put some translation tools to the test and review them. So, let’s get the party started 
! Our first “subject” is Google translate.
1. general text: 3 out of 5 (the text is an excerpt of an article retrieved from http://www.smartwoman.hotnews.ro)
| Original text (Romanian) | My translation | Machine translation |
| La inceput, oamenii pot sa ti se para minunati. E doar o minunatie care te incanta si care da, uneori orbeste. Insa cu trecerea timpului, pe masura ce ii cunosti, ajungi sa le vezi si partile mai putin bune si nu atat de incantatoare. Iar asta, cu siguranta ii face mai greu de iubit.Dar unde-i iubirea adevarata daca iubesti un om perfect? Nu e, as spune. De asta, ce bine-i ca nu exista oameni perfecti. Exista oameni frumosi, unii mai usor de iubit decat altii. | At first, you may find people wonderful. It’s just a marvel that thrills you and which can indeed, blind you. But as time goes by, as you get to know them, you also get to know their less than perfect and less thrilling sides. And this certainly makes them more difficult to love.But where’s true love if you love a perfect human being? Nowhere, I’d say. That’s why it’s great there’s no such thing as perfect people. There are wonderful people, some easier to love than others. | At first, people may look wonderful you are. It’s just a marvel and delight you that yes, sometimes blindly. But over time, as you know, get to see them and the less good and not so charming. And that certainly makes them more difficult to love.But where is true love if you love a perfect man? There is, I’d say. For this, good people, and that there is perfect. There are beautiful people, some easier to love than others. |
Google did quite a good job translating the text. Yes, there are a few mistakes that make the text sound unnatural, but overall the meaning of the text can be grasped. What was not so good: it completely changed the meaning of nu e..(Romanian) = there isn’t (English) – I translated it as nowhere as it was more appropriate as an answer to Where…? - by translating it There is, so exactly the opposite. What it is good: clicking on different words/expressions in the translation, it offers you options, allowing you to change the translation – good if you are not a complete beginner. So, not a bad performance. Let’s see what happened with the proverbs and idioms.
2. Proverbs: 1 out of 5
| Romanian proverb | English equivalent | Google translation |
| Cine se scoală de dimineață departe ajunge. | The early bird catches the worm. | Who gets up in the morning get away. |
| Așchia nu sare departe de trunchi. | Like father, like son. | Chip does not jump far from the tree. |
| Cine se-aseamănă se-adună. | Birds of a feather flock together. | Who-is-like gathering. |
Nothing much to say really. I expected more form Google, but I gave it 1 point for the literal translation – I would have given it more if it hadn’t been for the grammar mistakes .
3. Idioms: 0 out of 5
| Romanian idiom | What it means/ Approximate English equivalent | Google translation |
| a face pe dracu’-n patru | to do one’s best, to try everything possible | to make hell in four |
| a durea în cot | to not give a damn, to not care, to be indifferent | the pain in elbow |
| ca nuca în perete | inappropriate, incompatible | nut-wall |
Just like with the proverbs, Google offered a word-by-word translation (and sometimes not even that, in the sense that grammar categories have been completely messed up), which made no sense. So, again, no points.
Overall score: 4 out of 15
Average score: 1.33 out of 5
