Linguistic Equilibrium

[Horatius]

For those of you trying to generate 'ancient prophesy' or poorly translated alien languages, I found this site. Just type in your phrase and it washes the phrase back and forth between english and 'another unnamed asiatic language' until equilibrium is reached. The phrases come out pretty good and sometimes the actual meaning gets lost. Perfect for PCs strugling with an alien tongue.

http://www.translationparty.com/#4196453

 

[Zparkz]

My players should be worried now...

Original sentence:
To defuse bomb; hold red button down for 4 seconds while turning the left switch

Result:
1121222, and the remaining two 2-second break, 2 1 4 2 bombs 2,210,010,101,001,000,100 10.001001 billion 1,000,000,102 hold the red button switch


Can you spell run very fast?

 

[Max]

now if only they could figure a backwards translator so I don't have to guestimate construction steps this Christmas.

 

[FreeTrav]

As an example of just how badly the results can come out (which could be QUITE good, for game purposes), use "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press." as your initial sentence, and look at the FIRST backtranslation to English.

This one, incidentally, will never reach stable equilibrium; it will end up in a two-node dynamic equilibrium.

 

[Horatius]

Whe I run that line, I get:
Congress, please do not limit the freedom of speech. Legal

 

[Horatius]

I did find one that the progam deemed would likely never reach equilibrium. I started with "to arm the warhead, insert arming key into left keyhole and turn clockwise. "
and when the program gave up, it had become "Right-click and arm nuclear warheads, and to insert the lock, Aminguki left."

 

[FreeTrav]

Hmmm... I got something that basically turned the meaning around, in effect, "It is legal for Congress to limit freedom of speech".

And when I tried it again, I got something different again... "The law Congress must limit the freedom of the press release." Still essentially a reversal of the meaning of the original.

Ah! It's actually case-sensitive for the initial English!

When I put in the 'free press' clause exactly as "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press.", the first backtranslation to English is what I expected you to see, "Congress should restrict the legal freedom of speech."

ETA: Don't include the quotation marks, either.

 

[robject]

"Congress, there is a legitimate need to restrict the freedom of speech."

Oh, this explains it all. They need to stop using this website, and everything will be better.

 

[aramis]

Thread Closure - move to pit.

Thread delved into politics. It will disappear into the pit when I remember to do so.