Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Double-Translation Fun

I was inspired by my friend's blog to try double translation. This is where you take some text, convert it to another language using Babelfish and then convert it back again to English. Here is the preamble to the Declaration of Independence translated from English to Japanese and then back to English:

We that all person do these truths because it is self-explanatory with their originators, it was drawn up the life of of happiness among these of that the same, they are contributed, a certain transfer impossible right to be freedom, and pursuit you keep.

When with any form of government these edges become harmful, there is a right of the thing people who are provided with the human where in order to guarantee these rights with anytime, government is controlled and, it changes that that whether, or abolishes obtains fair power from acceptance builds the basis in that kind of principle, organizes the power of that kind of form, the fact that new government is provided perhaps seems that brings safety and happiness and in regard to those.

Prudence, it decides that, the government which completely, is long established should not change because of the light/write and transient cause,; And with the abolition of the form which has been accustomed as for badness it is sufferable with right itself but, in consequence of that as for shewn everything of hath of experience, that mankind by in order to suffer to a feeling. But as for the train whose abuse and usurpations are long in order without fail to decrease those under Despotism which pursues the same purpose by all means when showing the design clearly, the right separated, to throw from that kind of government to offer the new guard to their future guarantees, the obligation which that is, is.

Here is the original English:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.