Translation Party

While I was reading some Yankee kun to Megane chan, my very sexy friend Rachel showed me this online application called Translation Party. It takes an English phrase and translates it into the Japanese equivalence. It then takes that Japanese phrase and finds its literal English meaning. It alternates between the languages until it finds a translation that is literally the same in both English and Japanese.

I will be going to work today
今日は仕事にできると思う
I think it can work
私はそれを回避できると思う
I think I can avoid it
私はそれを回避できると思う
I think I can avoid it

I don't do very well at parties
私はとてもよくパーティーでしない
I'm not very well at the party
パーティ私は非常によくで
My party is very well
私のパーティーは非常によく
I very much party
私は非常に多くのパーティ
I have so many parties
私は多くの当事者が
I have many parties
私は多くの当事者が
I have many parties

Examples

I am the killer kitten who eats snake monkey.
私は殺人者蛇猿を食べる子猫です。
I am a kitten killer snake eating a monkey.
私は子猫のキラー蛇猿を食べています。
I have a monkey eating a kitten killer snakes.
私はサルの子猫のキラーのヘビを食べている。
I have the kitten killer snake eating monkeys.
私は子猫のキラーヘビ、サルを食べている。
My kitten killer snakes are eating monkeys.
私の子猫のキラーヘビ、サルを食べている。
My kitten killer snakes are eating monkeys.

There are some phrases that have no equivalence. Furthermore, many phrases can be turned into the complete opposite of the original sentence (see party example).

Why it Works:

The Japanese language has a different sentence structure than that of the English language. Thus with the verb always going last, literal translations can change the meaning. Furthermore, the subject particle is normally assumed and excluded from the sentence. This can turn a 'I went to a party' to 'Went to party' if the 'I' was excluded since most speakers exclude the subject if it can be assumed to whom it is referring to.

Why not give it a try and share some interesting outcomes with me? This is an awesome way to improve your Japanese skills as well.

Play Translation Party