Swap-bot Time: March 18, 2024 10:56 pm
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Google-translate some lyrics!

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Swap Coordinator:pahasiga (contact)
Swap categories: Challenges  Letters & Writing 
Number of people in swap:2
Location:International
Type:Type 2: Flat mail
Rating requirement:4.98
Last day to signup/drop:May 1, 2021
Date items must be sent by:May 29, 2021
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

Three runners in a pub on the rooftops of Riga sing,
For youth that passes and also passes,
How many girls are loved, how many mice are caught,
How much Balderjani drank from the joys and sorrows.

... what?

I got a Latvian song in my head and decided to run it through Google Translate, to help to explain my friends what is it about, that's what. And so I thought - long time no google-translating swap, let's do some lyrics this time!

For this swap, you need to be fluent in two languages - English and some other - enough in both for a penpal letter.

First, find a song, preferably such that the original lyrics was in your non-English language (not a cover for an originally-English song). Add some commentary on your own - as song lyrics may be rather condensed, maybe to give some background, what is the song hinting at (if I chose a song from Singing Revolution times, the footnotes could be ten times as long as song); or you could tell your partner why did you choose this song, is it a favourite of yours perhaps. Typewritten, your letter should be about one A4 page long - not much more, so as not to make second step too time-consuming.

Second, translate your letter (including lyrics) into English, not necessarily word-for-word, but precisely enough to count as a translation of a literary work. Do not use Google Translator in this step! You may use dictionaries, of course.

Your translation does not need to rhyme or fit into the music! I think that would be too much to ask from amateurs like us.

Third (and please do it after you have translated your original letter yourself, so as not to have unwelcome influences!), copy your first letter into Google Translator and let it translate the letter for you. Don't change anything. If it leaves some words untranslated because it can't chew through a composite word with two suffixes, so be it. (Look at the "Balderjani"! Just one extra letter for rhytm and already translator doesn't know it's valerian. In case that makes you wonder even more, "runči" actually means tomcats, not runners.)

Send to your partner all three versions of the letter. Don't forget to mark which one is which! Most comfortable way for fulfilling the swap is obviously to have the letters printed from computer, but if you have no possibility to do that, you may also write by hand.

Please be sure you don't mind receiving typed letters.

No swappers with unexplained low ratings, no 1s owned to active swappers, no double or underage profiles, or other kinds of questionable swappers, please. You are welcome to PM me (with proof of course) if you spot any in my swap.

Discussion

annim 04/22/2021 #

I have a baby brain...so am I to write a letter in my language with a song in my language? Then translate the song by myself to English? And then translate the song in Google translate? And send all those three letters?

pahasiga 04/22/2021 #

@annim - yes, but not only the song but also the rest of your letter. You will write (type) a letter that contains lyrics of a song and your commentary on it, then translate it all into English, and then have Google Translate to translate it to English as well. Three times the exact same letter to your partner.

DennisBarto 05/21/2022 #

Google Translate is always very helpful in such matters. But unfortunately, sometimes it makes mistakes. Therefore, when I need to get an accurate translation, I use this source translate.com/integrations/zendesk I can always count on high-quality human translation even in the shortest time. And Google Translate does a great job with simple translations that are needed in everyday life.

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