Translation Software

[BetweenLines]

Anyone recommend something good for the desktop (laptop) that does NOT require the internet and preferably can speak.

A built in web browser with translation would be good too!

[TwoBitBandit]

Anyone recommend something good for the desktop (laptop) that does NOT require the internet and preferably can speak.

A built in web browser with translation would be good too!

I use some translation software from http://www.promt.com/ .  You can download it and have a free 30-day trial before you buy it.  It can also speak and the quality of the translation is better than all the other methods I have tried.

[msmoby_ru]

Anyone recommend something good for the desktop (laptop) that does NOT require the internet and preferably can speak.

A built in web browser with translation would be good too!

Hi, the best translators that include sound are dedicated electronic ones... e.g http://www.ectaco.com/Russian-items/

[Jet]

A built in web browser with translation would be good too!

If you use FireFox there is an add-on called RussKey that's fantastic for short translations (several lines)
and Google has some great software for translating web pages here
The google software is included in the RWD toolbar, which is a free download here and works with FireFox or Internet Explorer

[GoodBrew]

A built in web browser with translation would be good too!

Which browser are you using?  RussKey for FireFox has been mentioned, and FoxLingo is another option for that browser.  You'll have a choice of different translation services including Google, Prompt, and Yahoo. 

[Shadow]

Remember that with any translation software you will have to be able to understand and work around the limits.
First of all, translation software does not translate slang or 'common expressions'. It makes a literal translation that can make a common expression look like complete nonsense.
Second, grammar translation is very limited.
Third, if you misspell the original, translation can come out very different.

If you have learned some foreign languages, you may have developed a good feeling for contextual translation, or ideally learned to translate by using a dictionary. In that case translation software is a good help. If you expect a fully correct translation of software, forget about it.

When you start using it, be sure to make the language you use to translate adapted to the medium. Use short sentences with as little grammar as possible. Do not use any expressions or slang. Use the proper base language (US English will translate different from UK English). And always keep the original with the translated text, to be able to make clarifications by single word translation.
 

[cad101]

I have a friend that just recently sent his girl a short message and he used a translator.
He didn't re translate to see what it actually said.
Her name is Marina and his message translated to:
A Very Nice Place to Park a Yacht.
I understand he had a hole to dig out of with that one 

[Taz]

Sooooo many caveats with machine translation. Many of the will translate from English "I like you" to "I love you". Promt has a major issue with this. The more specific the word you use that has few, but distinct, meanings the better off you will be. If you want to use the word "like" but actually want the meaning of "similar" then it is better to choose the word "similar" in the first place.

Always translate it from your language, to the other language and then back and see what you get. If you it seems like crap, they'll likely think so too.

[SANDRO43]

OK, have a machine translate this:

Time flies like an arrow

Problem has been around for the past 50 years or so, IIRC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_language_processing). I was involved in an IBM project called Pike's Peak in the early 1980s, hurriedly abandoned shortly thereafter as hopeless.

[Taz]

Promt does a pretty good job.

Vremya letit kak strelka.

[SANDRO43]

Promt does a pretty good job. Vremya letit kak strelka.

Good, but that is not the only possible translation .

[Taz]

That is why I love to try different variations and different types of translations on the same text. I'll try correspondence, technical, recipes, etc. just to see how the output can vary. Some are really quite humorous!

[Brianinaz]

I have also used PROMT as agree with what has been said but have also had a few good mis-understandings over incorrectly translated text. My advise is its good for how are you? And I had potatoes for dinner and the weather is great. If it's something significant have it done by a human and my experience is that voice transmission is cheaper that text translation. I know a couple of translators that are quite reasonable. Feel free to PM me for contacts

[Stirlitz]

What can I say. Translation software is a great invention. No human can translate like that.