English#

Alright son, your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to devout your life to the study of algae activity.

Spanish#

Corriente hijo, tua misión, si escoges aceptación de lo, es dedicar tua vida a el estudio de actividad de algas.

Bueno, hijo, tu misión, si escojas aceptarla, es dedicar tu vida al estudio de la actividad de algas.

French#

D'accord le fils, ton mission, si tu choisis accepter il, c'est consacrer ton vie à l'étude de l'activité de l'algae.

Allors, mon fils, ta mission, si tu choisis l'accepter, c'est consacrer ta vie à l'étude de l'activité de l'algae.

Faré: Bon, fiston, ta mission, si tu choisis de l'accepter, est de consacrer ta vie à l'étude de l'activité des algues.

Italian#

Esatto figlio, tua missione, se decidere di accetto lo, è dedicare tua vita a il studio di la attività de alghe.

Allora, figlio, tua missione, se decida l'accettare, è dedicare la tua vita al studio di la attività de alghe.

German#

Schön Sohn, dein Lebensaufgabe, wenn [wählen] du annehmen es, [widmen] [essen] dein Leben zu das Studium von Tätigkeit von Algen.

Nur zu, Sohn, dein Lebensaufgabe, wenn wähle du es anzunehem, ist dein Leben zum Studium von Tätigkeit von Algen widmen.

Mandarin Chinese#

Zan4tong2 er2zi, ni3 de dai4biao3tuan2, jia3shi3 ni3 xuan3ze2 xiang4 tong2yi4 ta1, shi4 ba3 ni3 de sheng1ming4 feng4xian4 gei3 xue2xi2 de huo2dong4xing4 de zao3lei4.

Hao3 ba, hai2zi, ni3 de shu3ming4, ru2guo3 ni3 jue2ding4 jie1 shou4 de hua4, jiu4shi4 zhi4li4 yu2 zao3lei4 huo2dong4 de yan2 jiu1.

English#

I wouldn't want to run into an armadillo that big, so we'll make him dead from the start.

I wouldn't want to run into an armadillo that big, so he'll be dead from the start.

French#

Je ne voulus [pret ind/framboise] pas rencontrer par hasard un tatou tellement grand, de sorte que nous ferons [fut ind/pêche] lui mort de la commencement.

Je ne voudrais pas recontrer par hazard un tatou tellement grand, ainsi il sera mort de la commencement.

Italian#

Non vòlli [pret ind/lampone] imbattersi in [an armadillo - unknown] tanto grande, cosiché farémo [fut ind/pesca] lo morto dall'inizio.

Non vorrei imbattermi in un armadillo così grande perciò lui sara morto dall'inizio.

Spanish#

No desere [fut subj/frambuesa] tropezar con un armadillo tan grande, as que haremos [fut ind/melocotón] él muerto desde el comienzo.

No me gustaría tropezar con un armadillo tan grande, por eso, él será muerto desde el comienzo.

English#

Inspiration is a fickle friend; and, were she more willing, I would have a better sentence to translate.

French#

Inspiration est un ami inconstant; et si elle veuille plus j'avais une phrase meilleur pour traduction.

L'Inspiration est une amie inconstante et, si elle était plus attentive, j'aurais une meilleur phrase pour traduire.

Spanish#

Inspiración es un amigo inconstante; y si ella esté más voluntarioso tenga una frase mejor por traducción.

La Inspiración es una amiga inconstante; y, si ella fuera más attenta, tendría yo una frase mejor para traducir.

Italian#

Ispirazione è un amico volubile; e se lei sìa disposto più io àbbia un frase megliore per traduzione.

L'Ispirazione è una amica volubile; e, se lei fosse più disposta, io avrei una frase megliore per tradurre.

(The second is the corrected version.)#

English#

How about you and I go on a tour of the underground world of equestrian fanatics? We would hear all about Horse Girl, Dung Face, and Mr. Mane. I was told it is terribly exciting.

Let's you and I go on a tour of the underground world of equestrian fanatics. We would hear all about Horse Girl, Dung Face, and Mr. Mane. I was told it is terribly exciting.

French#

Comment environ tu et je allons sur un tour de monde souterrain de fanatiques équestre? Nous entendrions tous au surjet de la Fille Cheval, la Visage de Fumier, et Monsieur Crinière. Me as dit c'est trés émotionnant.

Faison toi et moi un tour du monde souterrain des fanatiques équestres. Nous entendrions tous au sujet de la Fille Cheval, le Visage de Fumier, et Monsieur Crinière. Ils m'ont dit que c'est vachement émotionnant.

François-René Rideau recommends the following translation:

Faisons tous les deux un tour du monde souterrain des fous du cheval. Nous apprendrions tout au sujet de la Pouliche, de Tête de Fumier, et de Monsieur Crinière. On m'a dit que c'est tout à fait passionnant.

Spanish#

Cómo cerca de tu y yo soportamos de jira de el mundo clandestino de fanáticos ecuestre? Nosotros oigamos todo con respecto a Chica Caballo, Cara de Estiércol, y Señor Crines. Me dijo ello es muy emocionante.

Vamos tu y yo soportamos de jira del mundo clandestino de fanáticos ecuestres. Oiríamos todo con respecto a Chica Caballo, Cara de Estiércol, y Señor Melena. Me digeron que es muy emocionante.

Italian#

Come quasi tu e io soportiamo in gita di il mondo segreto di fanàtici equèstre? Noi udiamo tutti di circa Ragazza Cavallo, Facia di Sterco, e Signore Criniera. Mi ha detto lo è molto emozionante.

Andiamo soportare in gita tu ed io del mondo segreto di fanàtici equestri. Sentiremmo tutto di riguardo Ragazza Cavallo, Faccia di Sterco, e Signore Criniera. Mi hanno detto che è molto emozionante.

English#

I wonder how difficult it would be to find a phrase that alliterates in multiple languages. I wonder how difficult it would be to coax a herring into a plastic bag at thirty thousand feet.

Spanish#

Pregunto cuándo difícil lo supuesto hallar un frase con aliteración en múltiple linguas. Pregunto cuándo difícil lo supuesto engatusar un arenque en un saco plástico a treinta mil pies.

Me pregunto cuánto difícil sería hallar una expresión con aliteracíon en lenguas múltiples. Me pregunto cuánto difícil sería engatusar a un arenque que entre en una bolsa plástica a la altitud de treinta mil pies.

French#

Je se demande pourquoi combien difficulté il serait trouver la phrase avec allitération en les langues multiples. Je se demande pourquoi combien difficulté il serait cajoler un hareng dans un sac plastiqué a trente mil piedes.

Je me demande quelle difficulté ça presenterai pour trouver une expression avec allitération en langues multiples. Je me demande quelle difficulté ça presenterai pour cajole un hareng pour etre dans un sac plastique a trente mille pieds.

Chinese:#

Jing4 ye4 si1

chuang2 qian2 ming2 yue4 guang1
yi2 shi4 di4 shang4 shuang1
ju3 tou2 wang4 ming2 yue4
di1 tou2 si1 gu4 xiang1

English: (Translated by someone else)#

A Thought on a Still Night

Before my bed, the bright moonlight
Looks like frost upon the ground.
I raise my head to watch the moon,
Then lower my head and think of home.

Spanish:#

Un pensamiento en una noche quieta

Antes de mi cama, la luz de la luna brillante
parece escarcha en la tierra.
Yo levanto la cabeza para mirar la luna,
después bajo la cabeza y pienso en mi casa.

Italian:#

Un pensiero a una notte tranquilla

In fronte al mio letto, il chiaro di luna brillante
sembra rugiada sulla terra.
Mi alzo la testa per osservare la luna,
allora abbasso la testa e penso alla casa mia.

Arabic: (Just the title)#

fikr il-layl il-haadee

English:#

We reserve this action for only the most dire of circumstances, such as when a wild porpoise is tormenting the villagers.

Italian:#

Riserviamo questo azione per solo gli circostanzi di più terribile, tale quale una focena di selvaggio tormentava i paesane.

Corrected:

Riserviamo quest'azione per soltanto le circonstanze le più terribili tale quale quando una focena selvaggia sta tormentado i paesani.

French:#

Nous réservons ce l'action pour mais le circonstance de plus affreux, tel que un marsouin de sauvage tourmentait les villageois.

Corrected:

Nous réservons cette action seulement pour les cironstances les plus affreuses tel que quand un marsouin sauvage est en train de tourmenter les gens de villages.

English:#

It's strange that most people only want to learn either the polite words or the curse words when first considering learning another language.

Spanish:#

Es extraño que mucho gente solo deseamos aprender o los palabras cortés o los palabras reniego cuando primero en vista de otro lingua.

Es extraño que la mayoría de la gente solo desean aprender las palabras cortésas o los tacos cuando considerando empezar el aprender de otra lingua.

Italian:#

È strano quel più di gente solo volono imparare o i paroli raffinato o i paroli odiato quando primo considerato un altro lingua.

È strano che la maggioranza dell gente solo vogliono imparare le parole raffinate o le parole abusive quando vogliono cominciare un'altra lingua.

English:#

My voice mail message for my cellphone is: "Hey guys what's up? It's Jay and I'm not here, here comes the beep, you know what to do."

French:#

Mon message de postal voix pour téléphone de mobile c'est: "Salut amis ça va? C'est Jay et j'ne suis pas ici, l'bip vinis, tu sais quoi faire."

Mon message de [voice mail] pour mon téléphone mobile c'est: "Salut l'amis, ça va? C'est Jay que parle et j'ne suis pas ici, voici le ton qui arrive! Tu sais quoi faire."

Spanish:#

Mi mensaje de corresondencia vos por mi teléfono móvil es: "Hola amigos. como estas? Es Jay y soy non presente, el beep vene, tu conoce qué hacer."

Mi mensaje de [voice mail] por mi teléfono móvil es: "Hola amigos, ¿qué tal? Que hable Jay y no estoy acqui, acui viene el señal, tu sabes qué debes hacer -- déjame un mensaje."

English:#

It is indescribable how much I love you. From the day we first met, I had to know you better. Yes, tuna fish, you are the one.

French:#

C'est indescriptible combien j'adore tu. De un jour nous avons rencontré premièrement, j'ai connaître tu mieux. Oui, poisson de thon, tu es l'elu.

Correction:

C'est indescriptible combien je t'adore. Du jour quand nous nous sommes recontrés la première fois, j'ai du te connaître mieux. Oui, le thon, tu es l'élu.

Italian:#

È indescrivibile quanto io adoro tu. Di giorno noi prima abbiamo incontrato, io ho avuto conoscere tu molte. Si, pesce tonno, sei tu.

Correction:

È indescrivibile quanto ti adoro. Dal giorno quando noi ci siamo inctrati la prima volta, ho dovuto conoscerti meglio. Sì, tonno, sei tu.

English#

There are many things that exist in this world. However, an ounce of sense in your brain is not one of them. I consider you at the level of a snail.

Italian#

Original: Ci sono molti cosi che esistano dentro a questo mondo. Come, l'oncia di senso in il tuo cervello è non uno di loro. Io considero tu a il livello di un chiocciola.

Corrected: Ci sono molte cose che esistono in questo mondo. Quindi, l'oncia di senso nel tuo cervello non è fra di loro. Ti considero nel livello di una lumaca!

Spanish#

Original: Hay mucho cosi que existen en este mundo. No obstante, un onza de sentido en su cerebro es no uno de los. Considero tu en el nivel de un caracol.

Corrected: Hay muchas cosas que existen en este mundo. Sin embargo, en onza di sentido en tu cerebro no es uno de ellas. Te considero al nivel de un caracol.

English:#

I'd like to introduce you to my friend Jay. He works in the computer industry and is studying economics and human languages.

French:#

J'aimerais présenter toi à mon ami Jay. Il fai travailler en l'industrie informatique et il étudiais économique et langues humain.

J'aimerais te présenter à mon ami Jay. Il travaille dans l'industrie informatique et il étudie l'economique et les languages humaines (étrangères).

Spanish:#

Gustaría presentar a mi amigo Jay. El haco trabajar en el industria informática y estudiía economía política y lenguas humano.

Me guastariá presentarte a mi amigo Jay. El trabaja en la industria informática y estudia la economía política y las lenguas humanas (extranjeras).

Animal:#

Three happy raccoons.

Tres mapaches felices.

Trois ratons laveur heureux.

Superglue (English)#

"You and me, are meant to be", she said to me so happily. "Forever and ever", she said. If only it were true.

Colla Prodigio (Italian)#

"Tu e io, siamo predeterminato èssere insieme", essa hai detto a io così felicemente. "Per sempre e sempre", essa hai detto. Se solo quello è stato vera.

"Tu ed io, siamo destinati ad èssere insieme", lei mi ha detto così felicemente. "Per sempre e sempre", lei hai detto. Se soltanto quello fosse vero.

Super colle (French)#

"Toi et moi, sommes faisons predestiné être ensemble", elle fait dit à moi trés heureusement. "Pour toujours et toujours", elle fait dit. Si seul le fait été vrai.

"Toi et moi, nous sommes destinés a êtres ensemble", elle m'a dit trés heureusement. "Pour toujours et jamais", elle a dit. Si seulement ça fût vrai.

Notes#

• In Italian it is considered ugly and difficult to say double vowels, in the case of "e", replace with "ed"
• "Lei" is preferable to "Essa" in Italian.
• Rather than saying "verb at me" say "me verb".
• French past tense conjugates with avoire, not faire.

English#

Suddenly, at quarter past three, the church steeple rang with the sound of bells. The populace did not understand, nor did I.

French#

Original:

Soudainement, à trois heure et quart, le clocher d'église sonné avec le son de bourdons. La populace non comprendons pas, ni je fairs.

Correction:

Soudainement, à trois heure et quart, le clocher de l'église a sonné avec le son de bourdons. La populace n'ont pas compris et moi non plus.

Spanish#

Original:

De repente, en cuarto después de las tres, el campanario tañe con el sonido de campanas. El populacho hació no entender, ni hací yo.

Correction:

De repente, a las tres y cuarto, el campanario sonó con el sonido de campanas. La pablación no entendieron, ni yo tampoco.

English#

On Easter Sunday, we pack up the kids and head to my auntie's house. My dad calls every kid "Stink Monkey." I read books and get quizzed about school.

Italian#

Su domenica di Pasqua, stipiamo i guanti di capretto e dirigiamo a casa di la mia zia. Il mio chiama ogni capretto "Scimmia Puzza." Io leggo libri e sono esaminato intorno a facoltà.

Corrected:

La domenica di Pasqua, stipiamo i bambini e dirigiamo alla casa della la mia zia. Il mio babbo chiama ogni bambino "Scimmia Puzzatore." Io leggo dei libri e sono esaminato intorno i miei studii di facoltà.

French#

Sur Pâques de Dimanche, nous bourrons les mioches et nous conduions vers le maison de ma tant. Mon papa appele tous les mioches "Singe Puanteur". Je linds livre et obtenis examiné au sujet de faculté.

Corrected:

La Dimanche sur Pâsques, nous bourrons les mioches et nous conduissons vers la maison de ma tante. Mon papa appele tous les mioches "le Signe Puanteur". Je lis des livre et ils m'interrogent apropos mes études a l'école.

Lessons:#

• Watch out for English homonyms. Baby goats are not Baby humans.
• When you say "about school" in English, you really mean "about my studies at school."
• The French I used, was roughly "examined on the subject of" but Lee recommends "interrogated about."

English#

After the trip, I said to her, "It is a little funny." And she said, "Why?" And I said, "Yesterday I was on a beautiful Italian island, now I'm in a cold crummy town."

Italian#

Original:

Dopo viaggio, ho dettosi, "C'é piccolo comico." Allóra ha detta, "Per ché?" Allóra ho detto, "Ieri sóno stato su isola bella Italiana, allóra sóno di città freddo schifoso."

Corrected:

Dopo il viaggio, le ho detto, "É un pochino comico." E lei ha detto, "Perchè?" Ed io ho detto, "Ieri sono stato in una bella isola italiana, adesso sono in una fredda città schifosa."

Spanish#

Original:

Después de viaje, le dije, "Es un poco de còmico." Y dijo, "¿Por qué?" Y dije, "Ayer estaré en un isla bello italiano, ahora estoy en villa frío de mala muerte."

Corrected:

Después del viaje, le dije, "Es un poco còmico." Y ella dijo, "¿Por qué?" Y yo dije, "Ayer estuve en una bella isla italiana, ahora estoy en un frío pueblo de mala muerte."

Lessons#

• Should use "il" as "the" in Italian for male words, it is not assumed. Also, "del" is more correct than "de" in Spanish.
• You don't at the "to her" as something on the end of a verb, it goes in front of the verb, like "to her I said." Like I did correctly in Spanish.
• Italian was a little messy. I said "There was a small funny man."
• In both language, using pronouns before the verbs, you can emphasis who the doing was by rather than what was happening.
• "Allòra" means "and then" not "and."
• In both languages, for having nouns with adjectives, the most important one goes to the right of the noun, and other adjectives go to the left of the noun, more important ones to the right separated by "ands" -- not commas like in English.
• There were a few nuances and problems with spaces and accents.

English#

Original:

I sit in my house when all is quiet, typing with my hands and wandering with my head. The whole world is opened up by my mind, but I never seem to have enough time.

Corrected: (Lee is studied English in college before becoming a language addict.)

When all is quiet, I sit in my house typing with my hands and wandering with my head. The whole world is opened up by my mind, but I never seem to have enough time.

French#

Original:

Je s'asseois en mon maison quand tout est silencieux, typais avec mes mains et parcourissais avec ma tête. Le monde entier ouvrisse de mon espirit, mais je ne semble jamais avoir assez temps.

Corrected:

Quand tout est silencieux, je m'asseois dans ma maison en typant avec les mains et en parcourissant don la tête. Le monde entier s'ouvre par mon esprit, mais il ne me semble jamais d'avoir assez de temps.

Spanish#

Original:

Esto sentado en mi casa cuando todos están quieto, tipía con nuestros manos y vagaba con mi cabeza. El todo mundo abrí por mis mente, excepto nunca pareco estar bastante tiempo.

Corrected:

Cuando todo está silencioso, Etoy sentado en mi casa tipando con las manos y vagabundeando en la cabeza. El mundo entero se abre por mi mente, pero nunca me parece tener tiempo suficiente.

Lessons Learned#

In English, always try to use the active voice over the passive voice, not only does it sound better and stronger, but in this instance it eliminates confusion.

In French and Spanish, when you're talking about your body parts (and presumably other very obvious things) you don't say "my hands", you just say "the hands." They know what you mean.

In French, you use "of" a whole lot. You don't have "enough of time," not "enough time."

In general, the "-ing" verbs that I used in this letter are not the "Imperfect" (Strawberry) tense but are a modified tense whose name I have forgotten write down. Note to self: Look in the dictionary when you get home.

In general, to help out in translation try to translate the English in a more basic form with less inferences. Example: "I never seem to have" becomes "It seems to me that I never have." Basically, when you have a string of verbs, turn them into objects verbing on other objects.

In Spanish, "vagabundeando" is an awesome word, take the opportunity to use it if you can.

In general, try to translate the same in the different languages. (In French I had "the entire world", but in Spanish I had "all the world.")

In Spanish, "bastante" means "enough," but of the variety like "make sure I have enough" when asking for more tea. On the other hand, "suficiente" has the connotation of "enough/sufficient" and it is what you want.

Part of my language study program is writing letters to Lee, which he corrects. This is the first one I've gotten back some I posting it with corrections and the lessons I've learned. This is more for me than you, but you may be amused.#

English#

Today I woke up and it was very cold out. I had some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with my niece and it was great. Next I practiced my languages.

French#

Original:

Aujourd'hui je éveillai et il fut trés froid du dehors. Je mangai quelque beurre de cachuètes et gelée sandwiches avec ma nièce et il fut grand. Après Je practiquai mes langages.

Corrected:

Aujourd'hui je me suis reveillé et il faisait très froid dehors. J'ai mangé quelque sandwich au beurre de cachuètes et gelée avec ma nièce et c'était super! Alors, j'ai practiqué mes langues.

Italian#

Original:

Oggi mi svegliài e lo fu molto freddo esterno. Mi mangiài alcuni pasta d'arachidi e gelatina tranezzini con la mia nipote e lo fu grande. Dopo mi practicài i miel linguàggi.

Corrected:

Oggi mi sono svegliato e faceva molto freddo fuori. Ho mangato i panini imbottiti da pasta d'arachidi e gelatina colla mia nipotina ed é stato bravo. Allora, ho practicato le mie lingue.

Lessons Learned#

In Italian and French, although not in Spanish, it is best to use the Present-Perfect tense rather than the Preterite when talking about what is commonly referred to as the "Past Tense." The Preterite does exist in Italian and French, but it is generally only used in writing when talking about specific events that will never happen again. In general, the Present-Perfect means "I have ate," while the Preterit is "I ate-one-time."

I was a bit off with some of my capitalization in French, although I was not consistent in my wrongness. The word for I, "je", is not capitalized, always.

Other problems are related to nuance and are listed here:

Italian nuances:

• "esterno" means external, like to a country, not outside like "fuori."
• "panini imbottiti", literally "bundled up breads," is a better word than "tranezzini," which I don't know the literal definition.
• "con la" is often shortened to "colla."
• "nipote" is not gender-specific, but "nipotina" implies the female. (The suffix "ina" is like "cute and cuddly.")
• If there are two "e"s in a row in Italian, with or without accents, you change the first to "ed"--It's easier to say.
• "Dopo" is more "After" than "Next."
• "linguàggi" means "languages" like Morse Code or computer language. "lingue" is more like "tongues," or human languages.

French nuances:

• "reveiller" is a better word for "éveiller" for "to awaken," but I forget exactly why.
• The "du" in front of "dehors" is unnecessary.
• Adjectives come after nouns.
• I'm not sure if this in general, but if you are about to have two "de"s in a row, change the first to "au." "de" and "au" are like "of," you say "sandwiches of butter of peanuts and jelly," but you tree to make "x of y of z" clearer. You mean "x of ( y of z )" not "(x of y) of z," basically, "au" has higher precedence.
• "Aprés" is more "After" than "Next."
• Same situation with "langues" versus "langages" as in Italian.