How to use online language translators so people comprehend

Language translation websites

1. (Google Translate) || (Yahoo! Babel Fish) || (Windows Live Translator)
2. (Yahoo! and Windows Live = "SYSTRAN": the two translations are identical, with different interfaces.)
3. Google is often better, but sometimes SYSTRAN is better. Compare the two when the translation is important.
4. List of translators and supported languages: Wikipedia

You want to read forum post, but not your language?

Procedure

1. Copy text from the forum message.
2. Visit an online translation website.
3. Paste text into Input box ("Original text").
4. Select the origin and destination languages.
5. Click Translate.
6. If result unsatisfactory, repeat the procedure at a different translation website.
7. Remember words and phrases with satisfactory translations into your language. Use them in your answer.

You want to write a forum message, but not your language?

Summary

"Round-trip" method: First, translate to the other language. Then, translate the result back to your language. Not satisfactory? Edit source text and repeat until outcome in your language is satisfactory.

If (Translation satisfactory)

• People understand.
• People will reply.

If (Translation unsatisfactory)

• People laugh! Unsatisfactory translation is like bad poetry:
  humorous, but no understanding.
• People will not reply.

Procedure

1. Write your text in text editor (Notepad) so you can copy and paste many times. Write carefully, in simple style. See "Tips", below.
2. Copy your text from Notepad.
3. Visit an online translation website.
4. Paste text into Input box ("Original text").
5. Select the origin and destination languages.
6. Click Translate.
7. Copy the result text.
8. Paste it into the Input box.
9. Select the origin and destination languages. Backwards, this time, into your language.
10. Click Translate.
11. Result in your language is not satisfactory?
    • Edit your text in Notepad.
      Find words and phrases with unsatisfactory translation.
      Replace them with other words and phrases that have the same meanings. Maybe translate better.
      Go to Step #2 above and repeat until all the translation is satisfactory.
12. Translation is satisfactory? Excellent!
    • Post your message in both languages:
      1) Your language (copy and paste your text from Notepad),
      2) The other language (copy and paste text from translation results).
13. Now everybody comprehends you, in 2 languages!

Tips to make your writing translate better

The goal is for people to comprehend you. It is not necessary to write beautifully.

• Write in simple style.
• Put only one thought in each sentence.
• Write short sentences. Long sentences are confusing for the translator.
• Use numbers and symbols: 0123456789 = + - < > @ % & (*.*) [] {}
• Everyone understands the question mark: ?
• Use HTML, C, PHP, SQL and programming code words. They are English, but many people understand them.
• Use program code if your readers will comprehend it:

while(your website not validate)
     try again();

if((English comprehend) && (Chinese comprehend))
     result = Satisfactory!;

• Use words that have precise meanings. Avoid words with vague and multiple meanings. The translator might select the wrong meaning or an idiomatic meaning.

• Use simple verb tense: present, past, future.

No: "... by tomorrow, are you going to have visited that website?"
Yes: "You visit that website tomorrow?"

Specific tips and examples:

Chinese

• You write to mainland China (PRC)? Use "Chinese-Simplified".
• You write to Hong Kong, Taiwan, U.S.? Use "Chinese-Traditional".
• "Site": English > Chinese > English = "stand". Website, fruit stand, or moral position?
  "Website": English > Chinese > English = "website". Satisfactory!
• "To": often translates poorly, in all contexts and usages.

This page is written in the style which it recommends, using round-trip translation.

Do you think this page is stupid? Maybe. But it is stupid in the same way in 7 languages! English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Russian. The page translates less well to Arabic, Greek, and Italian. It translates poorly to Japanese, with important misinterpretations.

Comments welcome in the Forum.