Translation

Translation is the creation of a common understanding between languages (either by unabridged or abridged means to mapping concepts such as words, relationships, nouns, adjectives, verbs, tenses, particles, pauses, emphasis, cultural references, etc). Core aspects of understanding typically required for an effective translation process include:

1. conversion (from one language or communication system to another)
2. communication (effective reading, writing, verbal discussion, or some other form of signal exchange)
3. comprehension (understanding the message, its context and the intent of the communicator)

Services

Google Translate

Service works across 18 major languages and includes an API for accessing remotely from non-Google websites and applications.

• Google Translation Services: http://translate.google.com/
• Google Translate -- University Research Project: http://research.google.com/university/translate/
• Google Translation API: http://www.programmableweb.com/api/google-translate
• Google AJAX Language API: http://code.google.com/apis/ajaxlanguage/
• google-api-translate-java: http://code.google.com/p/google-api-translate-java/

BCmoney Subtitling

• SubtitleHorse + Google Translation API: http://bcmoney-mobiletv.com/subtitles/subtitle-horse/index.php?v=869

Skype Translator

• Skype Translator: http://translator.skype.com/
• Skype Translator Preview – An Exciting Journey to a New Chapter in Communication: http://blogs.skype.com/2014/12/15/skype-translator-preview-an-exciting-journey-to-a-new-chapter-in-communication/

SpeechTrans

• SpeechTrans: | [ API] | [ DOCS]
• SpeechTrans - series 1 funding:

BabelFish

A service previously owned by AltaVista, then AOL, and finally Yahoo! (as of Aug, 2009).

• Yahoo! BabelFish: http://babelfish.yahoo.com/

WordReference

The best translation service for words and short phrases in Western Languages, including (bi-directional):

1. English
2. French (Français)
3. Spanish (Español)
4. Portuguese (Português)
5. Italian (Italiano)
6. German (Deutsch)

Also, growing support for the following languages:

1. Polish (Polski)
2. Russian (Русский)
3. Romanian (Română)
4. Czech (Čeština)
5. Greek (Ελληνικά)
6. Turkish (Türkçe)
7. Japanese (日本語 --> 英和辞書)
8. Chinese-Mandarin (英汉词典)
9. Korean (영-한 / 사전)
10. Arabic (قاموس إنجليزي - عربي)

The user community (Spanish in particular) is especially strong and supportive, and tend to answer almost any language-translation, grammar, vocabulary, or comprehension-related question extremely quickly.

• WordReference: http://wordreference.com
• WordReference API: http://www.wordreference.com/docs/api.aspx | EXAMPLE - English-to-French HTML API | EXAMPLE - English-to-Spanish (JSON)
• WordReference Forums: http://forum.wordreference.com | Userpage @ WordReference Forums (the ID after u parameter is your API userID)

Duolingo

• Duolingo: https://api.duolingo.com/

Dictionary.com

• Dictionary: http://dictionary.com/
• Thesaurus: http://thesaurus.com/
• Full-text Translate: http://thesaurus.com/translate
• Dictionary/Thesaurus API: http://developer.dictionary.com/

Yandex

• Yandex Translation API: https://yandex.com/dev/translate/

Jibbigo

• Jibbigo: http://jibbigo.com
• Speech-to-Speech Translator iPhone App: http://www.ddj.com/mobile/221100130

FreeTranslation

• SDL's FreeTranslation: http://www.freetranslation.com/
• FreeTranslation - WebMaster Tools: http://www.freetranslation.com/store/?linkId=freeTransHomeV3#ToolsWebsite

Reference

• Reference.com: http://translate.reference.com/
• SysTranSoft - Website Translation: http://www.systransoft.com/text-translation EXAMPLE

Tools

• DeepL: https://www.deepl.com/translator (context-aware translations)
• Google Translate: http://translate.google.com/
• Bing Translator: http://www.bing.com/translator/
• Yahoo! BabelFish: http://www.babelfish.com
• AutoSummarizer: http://autosummarizer.com/ (generate summaries of longer text or web pages)
• TextCompactor: http://textcompactor.com/
• Smmry: http://smmry.com/
• TextTeaser: http://www.textteaser.com/

Resources

• Japanese Alphabet - Romanization of Japanese characters (Kanji/Kana) an AJAX & Web Service based solution for instant Japanese character recognition and translation: http://www.kawa.net/works/ajax/romanize/japanese-e.html
• The Urban Dictionary (common english slang): http://www.urbandictionary.com/ | EXAMPLE - "ebonics" word
• NB - Translated Documents Regulations: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-93-9/index.html
• TRMS - Translation Bureau of New Brunswick: https://trms-sgdt.snb.ca/siteminderagent/formsbi/login.fcc?TYPE=33554433&REALMOID=06-000784ac-0150-17d7-b862-4c188e8ba07e&GUID=&SMAUTHREASON=0&METHOD=GET&SMAGENTNAME=-SM-w/c2iv7XgniOVaANpTYN%2b24QJsd632LRPnlKXz3BeaxZomLU%2bmhvLXmZPL2SOlQA&TARGET=-SM-https://trms--sgdt.snb.ca/Client/Index
• Support for Translation and Interpretation Program: http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.201129.Support_for_Translation_and_Interpretation_Program.html

External Links

• wikipedia: Translation
• wikipedia: Natural language
• wikipedia: Telephone interpreting
• wikipedia: Machine translation
• wikipedia: Computational linguistics
• wikipedia: Linguistic typology
• wikipedia: Computer-assisted translation (also abbreviated CAT)
• wikipedia: Interactive machine translation (also abbreviated IMT)
• wikipedia: Automatic summarization
• Machine-Aided Human Translation (MAHT): http://www.cslu.ogi.edu/HLTsurvey/ch8node6.html
• Joel's English to Ebonics Translator: http://www.joel.net/EBONICS/translator.asp
• Ebonics Translator (learn Ebonics guide): http://www.ebonics-translator.com/learn_ebonics2.php
• W3 French-English Dictionary: http://fr.w3dictionary.org/
• Dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com
• Facebook and Google have both implemented Translation services, differing approaches... but who's the better translator: Machines or Humans?: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/07/language.facebook.google/index.html
• Haters gonna hate -- Mori Ogain on (Japanese-English) Translation: http://neojaponisme.com/2010/01/19/haters-gonna-hate-mori-ogai-on-translation/
• Google demonstrates phone that translates text (of pictures taken with camera): http://www.japantoday.com/category/technology/view/google-demonstrates-phone-that-translates-text
• Flipboard's Approach to Automatic Summarization: http://engineering.flipboard.com/2014/10/summarization/
• Machines Learn to Translate Sentences More Naturally: https://medium.com/iotforall/machines-learn-to-translate-sentences-more-naturally-bc6c2267769d
• Why Is Google Translate Spitting Out Sinister Religious Prophecies? : https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/j5npeg/why-is-google-translate-spitting-out-sinister-religious-prophecies
• ALC announces switching Translation service provider to the "Translation Bureau of New Brunswick": https://atlanticlottery.sharepoint.com/news/Pages/Slides/Switching%20to%20new%20translation%20provider.aspx
• Google unveils instant language translator that lets people hold conversations in real time: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2019/01/08/google-unveils-instant-language-translator-people-hold-conversations/

See Also

Internationalization | WordNet | Subtitles | Captions | NLP | Language | A11Y