This is another interesting translation I came across at Yahoo Knowledge.  An example of a bad translation.  Can you tell where the problems are?

 

Question:

即使不是貪圖安逸,人們總盡所有可能來圖謀任何手邊的事物。

 

Best (Wrong) Answer:

People always casts all possible greedy stakes, even if not eager for any enjoyable convenience probably, on whatever at hand reachable easier.

 

Let’s look at this best answer and see where the errors are:

 

First, the verb is wrong.  Always use a plural verb for a plural noun.  Maybe it is a typo.  So let’s dismiss that and move on.

 

People always cast all possible greedy stakes.

=> Is this an accurate translation or the right usage?

 

Let’s look at the usage of “cast” as a verb.

See http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cast

As you can see from the dictionary, it has the following meanings: (you can look up for other meanings at the link above)

Cast:

輕撒: The angler cast the line.

用力丟: cast the anchor.

投票: cast the votes.

投注在:    All eyes were cast upon the speaker.

擬出: cast a plan

: The cow cast a calf.

指定扮演: cast her as the lead

鑄造: cast into shape

 

Now, let’s look at the usage of “stake” as a noun.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stake

Stake:

柱子: He puts stakes around the young tree to protect it from being run over by the deer. 

處死刑 (燒死犯人在柱台上): Joan of Arc was sentenced to the stake.

賭金,賭注,(賽馬)獎金: She places all her stakes on the poker.

公司股份: She sells a stake in her company.

危險,風險:  We are all at stake if the chairman goes down.

 

Since you now know the usage of these words, let’s look at this phrase: “cast all possible greedy stakes” and find out the possible meaning of that.

Since this is a wrong usage, I am trying to guess what the translator was trying to mean.  I can only guess that he tried to mean  投注所有可能貪婪的賭注”, but there is no such usage as “cast stakes”.  This is a totally incorrect usage.  If you want to say “投下賭注”, you should say “place the stake on something”.  Now, we have cleared that the usage is wrong, let’s move on to the next.

 

To translate 即使不是貪圖安逸 as “even if not eager for any enjoyable convenience probably” is rather strange.

 

You cannot say “for any enjoyable convenience probably”.  Nobody will understand what you said.  I mean no people with English as their mother tongue will know that.  This is really bad translation and bad usage.  I would say "for any enjoyment and comfort possible"

 

Now look at: “on whatever at hand reachable easier”.  This phrase is really awkward.  => I would change it to “on whatever (that is ) easier to reach at hand”.

 

Look really carefully at each and every translation.  Try to improve your English skill by reading more.  Sometimes, experience doesn’t mean anything.  You have seen tons of bad English teachers and bad English translators in Taiwan .  Don't take in everything you read or see.  Try to analyze it.  

 

 

By the way, just for fun, these are my translations:

 

即使不是貪圖安逸,人們總盡所有可能來圖謀任何手邊的事物。

Even if not coveting for enjoyment and comfort, people would still try whatever possible to go after anything at hand.

 

Even if not coveting for enjoyment and comfort, people would still contrive whatever possible to seize anything at hand.

 

covet = wish for eagerly

contrive = manage.

 

** 版權所有 - Elisa

 

 

 

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