I've mentioned before the opinions expressed by others when I used Google Translate. No one is impressed. But what can I do? Where do I go? What should I choose to use instead?
I looked online and found a website offering free language-translation software called Xanadu. I thought it might be interesting to try it, but it seems to be Windows-friendly rather than Mac-friendly.
These are a few of the things I found on the Xanadu website. (The boldface italics are mine.)
Xanadu is the free language and translation wizard by Foreignword which helps you find a way through the language and translation "jungle".
Translate words or texts, find translators, read the latest language news, locate specialised glossaries and much more.
Once installed, you may choose among six languages for the user interface and help files: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese.
Translate words, terms or texts from/to over 60 languages and with almost 200 free online dictionaries or text translation systems.
Several dictionaries can be looked up at the same time and keyboard shortcuts enable you to instantly translate terms selected in any Windows application.
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| Poster from Wikipedia |
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Xanadu is also the name of a 1980 movie starring Olivia Newton-John, Michael Block, Gene Kelly, and the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
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The movie was roughly based on the 1797 poem Kubla Khan written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The poet subtitled this work "A Vision in a Dream."
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The city Xanadu is in China, in the area now called Inner Mongolia. It was built in 1252 by Kublai Khan as the summer capital of the Yuan Dynasty.
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Posted for ABC Wednesday, the alphabetical meme
started by Mrs. Nesbitt and carried on by her team of talented bloggers, and now in Round 8 of its 4th season.
To see how other bloggers used the letter X, please click
20 comments:
Great X post. I remember the movie - Even Olivia Newton-John couldn't save it for me.
An Arkies Musings
translators can be dodgy. Anyone who's put prefab furniture together knows that.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Very interesting Movie Poster. She is very pretty and I'm sure a good actress in the movie. I didn't see it.
Interesting post Kay.
Very clever way to use the letter X, Kay! Enjoy your visit! (((Hugs))) Jo
Ah, great minds do think alike, don't they, Kay!!! How fun! Hope your week is going well!
Sylvia
ABC Team
Oh drats! I just spent a good chunk of time translating an online article written in Romanian about our work into English using Google, and of course I still did not understand what the commenters had to say. Should try Xanadu... but later... for me this day has come to an end. I did not see the ruins of Xanadu when I went to Inner Mongolia. Clever X post, Kay!
I like the idea of the ancient city, with its pleasure domes, rather than the film. Online translation has certainly got easier in recent years, if only there was a real babel fish to put in ones ear and know all language.
Great post for X and I love your beautiful shots in the watery post after this one.
Great entry for X day! And very interesting too! Translaters sometimes do very funny translations! Will try this one though;o)
Thanks for sharing, Kay;o)
I remember that movie, Olivia Newton-John was a favorite of mine back then.
I haven't tried Xanadu translate, I'll give it a look.
I guess I am the only living human who has never heard of that movie. Well, now I know all about it and a little more about the X word today.
Brilliant presentation of Xanadu!
I am embarrassed to admit that I actually remember Xanadu! I love your twist on it.
Interesting information about the translator, Kay and the movie is a great choice for X.
I love Olivia Newton John and I do remember seeing the movie, but I can't remember exactly what it was about. My memory's going!
I'm not sure that I'll ever trust online translators, especially if you visit Bad Translator!
How fun, love your idea about this X theme!
Léia
X marks this a fine post!
Interesting choice Kay!
Please come and find out what the Letter X is at my page. Have a lovely day.
Clever lead into the letter X. I enjoyed reading your article, and reminiscing about films and music of years ago.
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