Automatic translation

[david fabre]

The Buttonbox website claims :

 

The Albion is our 37-key English model

 

When using google automatic translator for french, this turns into :

 

L'Albion est notre clé anglaise modèle 37

 

which, using again google translator to come back to english, means :

 

The Albion is our wrench model 37

 

Funny isn't it...

Edited September 9, 2010 by david fabre

[Dana Johnson]

The Buttonbox website claims :

 

The Albion is our 37-key English model

 

When using google automatic translator for french, this turns into :

 

L'Albion est notre clé anglaise modèle 37

 

which, using again google translator to come back to english, means :

 

The Albion is our wrench model 37

 

Funny isn't it...

IN case you hadn't noticed, the automatic translator is close to worthless. perhaps with enough feedback it will eventually work.

[david fabre]

IN case you hadn't noticed, the automatic translator is close to worthless.

 

but often funny !

[RatFace]

IN case you hadn't noticed, the automatic translator is close to worthless. perhaps with enough feedback it will eventually work.

 

In a matter of seconds it takes text written in a language I don't understand at all, and converts it into a form where I can understand over 90% of the meaning. I'm not sure why anyone would think that's close to worthless.

 

For an on-topic example - here.

[michael sam wild]

That threw a spanner in the works

[jdms]

That threw a spanner in the works

 

True, but if you take Danny's approach, it doesn't matter a whit (for whatever you consider a whit worth).

 

jdms

[JimLucas]

The Buttonbox website claims :

 

The Albion is our 37-key English model

 

When using google automatic translator for french, this turns into :

 

L'Albion est notre clé anglaise modèle 37

 

which, using again google translator to come back to english, means :

 

The Albion is our wrench model 37

 

Funny isn't it...

Interesting. That suggests to me that in the French language the same word means both "key" and "wrench". Interesting to me, at least, because that's also the case in Danish.

[david fabre]

The Buttonbox website claims :

 

The Albion is our 37-key English model

 

When using google automatic translator for french, this turns into :

 

L'Albion est notre clé anglaise modèle 37

 

which, using again google translator to come back to english, means :

 

The Albion is our wrench model 37

 

Funny isn't it...

Interesting. That suggests to me that in the French language the same word means both "key" and "wrench". Interesting to me, at least, because that's also the case in Danish.

 

That's right, but "clé" means a key only in the sense of the thing used to open a door, not as a synonymous of button.

[m3838]

IN case you hadn't noticed, the automatic translator is close to worthless. perhaps with enough feedback it will eventually work.

 

In a matter of seconds it takes text written in a language I don't understand at all, and converts it into a form where I can understand over 90% of the meaning. I'm not sure why anyone would think that's close to worthless.

 

For an on-topic example - here.

 

Russian translation is pretty good. With omitting of "in", "at", etc. Still making sense. I'm quite surprised.

[JimLucas]

...but "clé" means a key only in the sense of the thing used to open a door, not as a synonymous of button.

Hmm. What's French for a piano "key"?

[Leonard]

...but "clé" means a key only in the sense of the thing used to open a door, not as a synonymous of button.

Hmm. What's French for a piano "key"?

 

In Dutch:

 

"sleutel" = key that goes with a lock; wrech; but also clef in music notation.

 

A piano key is a "toets" (related to french: Toucher). "Toets" is also a fingerboard on a violin.

 

A concertina key is a "knop", because of its round shape. (like button, though a button on your shirt is "knoop")

 

A pianoaccordeon has "toetsen" on the right hand side, but "knoppen" on the left hand side, .

 

A computer keyboard is a "toetsenbord". a piano keyboard is a "klavier".

[michael sam wild]

I find key confusing for concertinas ,as a melodeon player as well, I use button. Stud was an earlier name.

[m3838]

A concertina key is a "knop", because of its round shape. (like button, though a button on your shirt is "knoop")

 

A pianoaccordeon has "toetsen" on the right hand side, but "knoppen" on the left hand side, .

 

A computer keyboard is a "toetsenbord". a piano keyboard is a "klavier".

 

 

Fascinating!

In Russian a "Key" to open the door and a "clef" is ключ (Klootch). Also "Cage" is Клетка (Kletka). Piano key is Клавиша (Klavisha)

A Button is "Кнопка" (Knopka).

[JimLucas]

Not relevant to buttons, keyboards, wrenches, etc., but I've always liked the story of an alleged test of an early program for doing computer translations.

 

The initial input was the saying, in English, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

 

This was translated automatically into Russian.

 

When the Russian result was then automatically translated back into English, it came out as, "The wine is good, but the meat's gone bad."

[david fabre]

En Francais ;

 

Piano => touches

accordeon (& concertina) => boutons

but I realise that the keys of flutes, clarinettes, etc... are still clés, like the ones to open the doors !

[michael sam wild]

I suppose 'key' has a function , to unlock a note whereas to call it a button is based on a similarity to an object with another function. ( or possibly its action from old French- boter = to thrust, as in a bell push)

[JimLucas]

En Francais ;

 

Piano => touches

accordeon (& concertina) => boutons

but I realise that the keys of flutes, clarinettes, etc... are still clés, like the ones to open the doors !

The metal "keys" on early woodwind instruments resemble the metal "keys" used to open locks on doors, concertina cases, etc. Makes me wonder which came first.

[Kautilya]

That threw a spanner in the works

V good!! "Touché!"

Spent an hour on saturday wrenching away on a spanner trying to tighten my leaky diesel fuel pump. Thank goodness there was no Sacré bleu [translated as s...ing smoke] coming out the back.

I suppose a wrench here is more of a burglar's preferred tool, or as the Japanese would say a Klay brothers method of encouragement, as opposed to its workshop use in Merrica.

 

Yes, it's a key because it locks and unlocks the nut/bolt when you turn it.

 

I prefer to use the word clef myself although I never know which key to choose to sing along in but it does gives rythm to my work ...........

 

But that still leaves confusion:

What is a Roman à Clef?

3 Aug 2010 ... Roman à clef translates as "novel with a key," which really doesn't explain much in English about what the term means. ...

www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-roman-a-clef.htm

Edited September 12, 2010 by Kautilya