Hi

I need to source an informal and free online resource which might allow me to translate a request/instruction in English into two foreign languages (Saudi and Chinese – probably Cantonese AND Mandarin, just to be sure) for some neighbours in our building.
Would there be such a thing that anyone knows of? I’ve done a quick Google search, but nothing jumps out as meeting the requirement. All help appreciated.

Merci beaucoup; Danke schone; Grazie; Muchas Gracias; Tapa leave; thank you

bablefish

Wow. That was fast.
Great for Chinese, but no Saudi option…yet.
Tried it out, and we’ll have to see if it has the desired effect.

thanks Mike.

Erm by ‘Saudi’ do you mean Arabic?

Google also do translations – the only trouble is they are word by word – so can produce gibberish.

“they are word by word – so can produce gibberish”

whereas babelfish produces gibberish in a far more creative way…

So is babelfish complete babble then?
I may need to seek out a more professional looking site if that’s the case.
I don’t want my neighbours thinking I talk a lot of sh1te.

Andym – you’re quite right. I didn’t want to generalise, but subsequent research has informed me that it is, indeed, Arabic. Forgive me.

I don’t half talk a lot of sh1te though, eh?

if you want to know how good babel fish is translate soemthign from english to another language and back again.

you may be luck and find someone on here who speaks one of these languages – it’s happened before.

Is it a note about the bins?

As above, both Babelfish & Google (& Systran) produce gibberish most of the time. It’s OK to trnaslate TO your language, but not FROM.

Always do a reverse translation before writing anything to anyone else.
I think you need to either find a friendly bilingual native or pay someone money.