Lost In Translation

Literally!

My friend Tracy asked for a translation of the Spanish bits in our last entry into English. I was about to ask her to just do an online translation on Babelfish.

Thankfully, Dannie had the sense or curiosity to check what the online translation results would be....

We also learnt that it doesn't pay to be lazy and try to pass off letters in the Spanish alphabet as the same ones in English (e.g. ñ for 'n') It makes a world of difference!!!! E.g. 'año' = year; 'ano' = anus!

Look how Babelfish mangled our Spanish masterpieces!!

Como Yo Encontre Mi Marido (How I Met My Husband, by Elena)
(showing the use of the Simple Past and Imperfect Past Tenses)

It makes five anuses, I I worked in an agency of travels. A day, a representative of the air line of Sri Lanka came office for a meeting. I arrive very behind schedule. He was the two and average of targe and I tapeworm much hunger. Planeabamos we to travel to Sri Lanka. We went to Colombo, Galle, Bentota and Hikkaduwa to work during one week. in Sri Lanka, when comiamos and reiamos with our new friendly, I realized Dani was very funny and interesting. Later, we began we often found but. We married in 2005.

What we really mean: Five years ago, I worked in a travel agency. One day, a representative of SriLankan Airlines came to my office for a meeting. He arrived very late. It was 2.30 in the afternoon and I was very hungry. We were planning to travel to Sri Lanka. We went to Colombo, Galle, Bentota and Hikkaduwa for one week, for the purpose of work. In Sri Lanka, when we were eating and laughing with our new friends, I realised that Dannie was very funny and interesting. After that, we began to meet more often. We got married in 2005.


The One With No Title In Spanish (A Tribute to Michael Jackson, by Dani)
(showing the use of the Simple Past and Imperfect Past Tenses)

Michael Jackson tapeworm fifty anuses cuendo morio. The song and I dance with its brothers when he was young. Cuendo I was young, I bought many songs of Michael, and I imitated his dance all the times. Michael cumplio in Singapore in 1993, and was amazing. I like Michael Jackson although the abuse sexually young young people.

What we really mean: Michael Jackson was 50 years old when he died. He sang and danced with his brothers when he was young. When I was young, I bought many of Michael's songs and I imitated his dancing all the time. Michael performed in Singapore in 1993 and was amazing. I like Michael Jackson although he sexually abused young children.


Nuestros Viajes En Suramerica (Our Travels In South America, by Elena)
(showing the use of the Future Tense)

Saturday, I saldre of Bogota with my Dani husband. I will remember my friendly here, especially Korean and the my professor of Spanish, Julian. We will go to San Gil, where we will row in a raft in the great river. Later, we will travel to Barichara. Barichara is a very pretty town. We will take many photos there. Unless we changed our opinions, we will prove the ants culonas - one delecia of Santander. Then, we will take a bus to Villa de Leyva. We will remain there by two nights. I believe that a room in Villa de Leyva is but expensive who one cuerto in this inn in Bogota, and we will have to pay but money by cuerto. The 10 of August, we will return to Bogota and we will continue for Cali, Popoyan and Ipiales. Following, we will be with our friendly in Ecuador and will travel in Ecuador with them by a month. We will start off with our friendly in September and will go to Peru. In Peru, we will raise mountains in White Mountain ranges and estan near Cusco. Later, we will be very poor!

What we really mean: On Saturday, I will leave Bogota with my husband, Dannie. I will miss my friends here, especially the Koreans and my Spanish teacher, Juliana. We will go to San Gil, where we will row a raft in the big river. After that, we will travel to Barichara. Barichara is a very beautiful village. We will take many photos. Unless we change our minds, we will try hormigas culonas - a delicacy of Santander. Thereafter, we will take a bus to Villa de Leyva. We will stay there for 2 nights. I believe that a room in Villa de Leyva is more expensive than a room in this hostel in Bogota, and we will have to spend more money on a room. On 10 August, we will return to Bogota and continue towards Cali, Popoyan and Ipiales. Next, we will meet our friends in Ecuador and travel in Ecuador with them for a month. We will part from our friends in September and go to Peru. In Peru, we will climb the mountains in Cordilleras Blancas and those near Cusco. After that, we will be very poor!