different translations
Hello,
This is my first post here and I am trying to learn Spanish.
Please, when I go to the translation tab/page and type in Hello, my name is Gregg
there are 2 translations given 1. Hola, mi nombre es Gregg 2. Hola, me llamo Gregg
which one is correct and why are there 2 different translations please. I do not understand.
hau
27 Answers
Marco, I left a note on your page...was that it?
No, I can see you already saw that one...well, i haven't got a clue, just ask it again.
hau johnson said:
Marco- thank you. I just got excited when I found the MT and thought that I had found a short cut to writing Spanish. Seems Spanish is like all other languages in that a word can have several meanings and uses depending on context, sentence structure and even region the speaker is from.samdie- thank you.
Yes, hau. You got it.
I don't think that there is one language in the world that words or sentences have only one meaning for each.
I think that this is the difficulty when you learn a language, but it's also the fun. :D
Heidita, I am still waiting for your reply regarding my question which I was asking you earlier.
Thank you,
Marco
Marco- thank you. I just got excited when I found the MT and thought that I had found a short cut to writing Spanish. Seems Spanish is like all other languages in that a word can have several meanings and uses depending on context, sentence structure and even region the speaker is from.
samdie- thank you.
samdie said:
Marco said:
Hola, mi nombre es Gregg = Hi, my name is Gregg. Hola, me llamo Gregg = Hi, I call myself Gregg.
And in English one might add further alternatives, simply "Hi, I'm Gregg." or even the Ian Fleming formula (with no verb at all), "Bond. James Bond."
Sandie, you are correct. "I am Gregg" is the most commen way to say it in English.
But another way without verb that you said sounds a little different.
This is the way to say your name after someone asks your name.
What's your name? - Bond. James Bond
¿Cómo te llamas? - Me llamo Bond. James Bond. (You also can say the name without verb).
But when you are going to introduce yourself to others, you probably won´t only say your name without anything. Right?
Thank you,
Marco
Marco said:
Hola, mi nombre es Gregg = Hi, my name is Gregg.
Hola, me llamo Gregg = Hi, I call myself Gregg.
And in English one might add further alternatives, simply "Hi, I'm Gregg." or even the Ian Fleming formula (with no verb at all), "Bond. James Bond."
lazarus1907 said:
:
which one is correct and why are there 2 different translations
Why do people have the idea that there is only one possible correct answer to everything in languages, and everything else must be wrong'Which one is correct and why'1) I don't get it2) I don't understand itThey are both correct, and so are the two options given by the translator (a very unusual thing), but as Natasha mentioned, the second option is the preferred one.Sometimes you can translate a sentence in dozens of different ways... all correct!
Hi lazarus, what you were saying was totally correct, but I could completely understand and feel what hau was saying and asking.
For a beginner of learning another language who doesn't know about that new language, usually the first question comes across his or her mind when he or she gets several translations from others or machine is which one is correct. I think that's very normal reaction. I had this same question when I just started learning Spanish. But after I have been learning Spanish for a while, now I know that same sentence can be translated to different meanings or we can use different ways to express same meaning depending on how you understand the sentence or meaning.
The example that hau gave to us is very good one.
Hola, mi nombre es Gregg = Hi, my name is Gregg.
Hola, me llamo Gregg = Hi, I call myself Gregg.
As Natasha mentioned that "me llamo Gregg" is the most natural - sounding Spanish, but "my name is Gregg" is more commen to be used than "I call myself Gregg" in English. (I haven't heard anyone say this way after I came to the U.S).
Now, you see the difference, Hau?
The point that I was trying to mention is that knowing or understand is much more important than only getting the translation without knowing why it's translated to this way.
After you get to know more, you will find out that it's easier for to translate sentences.
Thank you,
Marco
James Santiago said:
Nice example.
And my translation would be:
Hold your horses! I'm coming already.
I'd have expected you to resolve the issue of whether you're coming or going by saying "I'm on my way!"
hau johnson said:
samdie, lazarus1907, James Santiago, Thank you all. Looks like learning , writing and speaking Spanish is not going to be very easy for an old guy from Ohio like me. I will follow up on all your excellent advise.
hau
If it's any comfort, it's a lot easier to teach language proficiency to people that it is to computers.
samdie, lazarus1907, James Santiago,
Thank you all. Looks like learning , writing and speaking Spanish is not going to be very easy for an old guy from Ohio like me. I will follow up on all your excellent advise.
hau
Actually, in Spain we have a name for this type of word-by-word translations:
traducciones "from-lost-to-the-river".
Note: the expression "de perdidos al río" means, more or less, "in for a penny, in for a pound", but translated word by word is "from lost to the river" (some people have been known to say this for real).
Nice example.
And my translation would be:
Hold your horses! I'm coming already.
Let's see an example using the Google translation from this site:
Original: No te pongas pesado, que ya voy.
MT's translation: Don 't get heavy, and I'm going to.
My translation: Don't be so annoying. I'm coming.
Ok, it is a colloquial sentence, and these really kill MT's, but that will give you an idea of the kind of sentences you're likely to get if you don't "human-poof" it first.
hau johnson said:
James Santiago- thank you for your good advice. Heidita- thank you, I will go there and check it out. Thank you
Lazarus1907- thank you. I understand several correct meanings, as in any language. I just wanted
learn the differance between MT and the other translation given on the translation page here of Spanishdict.com
Thank you all
hau
As a general rule, MT usually produces bad translations. Notice Natasha´s results (above). If you're going from Spanish to English and the MT's output is "broken English" (and assuming that English is your native language), you will probably be able to figure out what the results would mean in "real" English. On the other hand when going from English to some other language (one that you don't know well), you won't know if the translation is "broken" Spanish (for example) or not.
Heidita-thank you.
Natasha-Thank you
Friends- I have had a very fast Spanish learning curve here in the last 45 minutes.
You have saved me from making numerous mistakes already. I hope not to bother with too many more questions. I like to keep a low profile. I hear and learn more with my mouth shut. Please feel free to continue to educate me about learning Spanish. Thank you.
hau
hau johnson said:
Friends,Thank you all.James Santiago I am sorry. I am new here and there is a lot I do not understand about Spanish and this forum's etiquette. I mean no harm and make mistakes because of lack of knowledge. I am here to learn.hau
Hau, you did not break any rule, James was just trying to make a point.
In any case, if the text, or letter you wish to write is not too long, post it on this forum in English and we will help you to translate it for you. don't forget to check the rules for posting first.
