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Duolingo
Thread poster: Nuno Rosalino
Nuno Rosalino
Nuno Rosalino
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:57
Member (2012)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Dec 7, 2011

(I'm not really sure under which subforum this thread would fit, so if a moderator could move it to the appropriate subforum if this isn't the right one, that'd be swell)

I just saw this TED Talk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ht4qiDRZE8&

And I was really curious to find out what you guys think about it, how it could impact the translation business in t... See more
(I'm not really sure under which subforum this thread would fit, so if a moderator could move it to the appropriate subforum if this isn't the right one, that'd be swell)

I just saw this TED Talk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ht4qiDRZE8&

And I was really curious to find out what you guys think about it, how it could impact the translation business in the future, general opinions, etc etc.



Regards,

Nuno. ▲ Collapse
 
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 21:57
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Smiles before the blow Dec 8, 2011

The video starts out funny, but when he comes to his model of having the web translated for free, the smile vanished. Based on his philosophy, anybody can translate as well as a professional translator. I believe that we have seen more than enough examples of "wanna-be" translators.
 
Attila Piróth
Attila Piróth  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 21:57
Member
English to Hungarian
+ ...
Two blog posts Dec 8, 2011

Here are two links to two widely read blogs: Duolingo: Crowdsourcing at its Best for the Translation Industry by a "Localization Visionary and Prof... See more
Here are two links to two widely read blogs: Duolingo: Crowdsourcing at its Best for the Translation Industry by a "Localization Visionary and Professional Contrarian" and Some (Serious) Observations on the Duolingo Brouhaha by a "financial translator" with "a dose of skepticism to guard against localization hype". Make sure to read the comments to the first one and the linked other blog entry of the second.

Best
Attila ▲ Collapse
 
Michele Fauble
Michele Fauble  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 13:57
Member (2006)
Norwegian to English
+ ...
Clueless Dec 8, 2011

Luis von Ahn is a good example of how a person can become highly proficient in a second language and yet not have a clue about either translation or language learning.
 
Stanislav Pokorny
Stanislav Pokorny  Identity Verified
Czech Republic
Local time: 21:57
English to Czech
+ ...
The same thread... Dec 9, 2011

...opened by Nuno elsewhere can be found here.
Just for info...
 
Nuno Rosalino
Nuno Rosalino
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:57
Member (2012)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Indeed I did Dec 9, 2011

Stanislav Pokorny wrote:

...opened by Nuno elsewhere can be found here.
Just for info...


Yup, I also crossposted it to TC, I wanted opinions of people all around the community, not just Proz. I hope that's ok?

[Edited at 2011-12-09 14:58 GMT]
 
Stanislav Pokorny
Stanislav Pokorny  Identity Verified
Czech Republic
Local time: 21:57
English to Czech
+ ...
Why not? Dec 9, 2011

Nuno Rosalino wrote:

Stanislav Pokorny wrote:

...opened by Nuno elsewhere can be found here.
Just for info...


Yup, I also crossposted it to TC, I wanted opinions of people all around the community, not just Proz. I hope that's ok?


Hi Nuno,
IMO, it's perfectly okay. I just wanted to let other fellow ProZians know that some opinions on this topic already exist.
 
Elke Fehling
Elke Fehling  Identity Verified
Local time: 21:57
Member (2005)
English to German
+ ...
Too many cooks spoil the broth Dec 9, 2011

I enjoyed watching the video and I find the idea really intersting.

But why doesn't this guy know that a text isn't just a bunch of random lines or paragraphs that can each be translated by a separate translator (or student, doesn't matter). The problem isn't the quality of the work of the single translators but the fact that it's not possible to produce a good and readable text like that.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.
 
Nuno Rosalino
Nuno Rosalino
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:57
Member (2012)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Secret sauce Dec 9, 2011

Elke Fehling wrote:

I enjoyed watching the video and I find the idea really intersting.

But why doesn't this guy know that a text isn't just a bunch of random lines or paragraphs that can each be translated by a separate translator (or student, doesn't matter). The problem isn't the quality of the work of the single translators but the fact that it's not possible to produce a good and readable text like that.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.



I think the real crux of the question is how their system 'creates' the "professional" translation from the patchwork of simple translations. Keeping the cooking analogy going, if their 'secret sauce' is good enough, this could be really interesting; if not, well, they'll surely tank. But right now we can only wait and see, I suppose; Until then all we can do is take what the presentation said at face value.

[Edited at 2011-12-09 16:03 GMT]

[Edited at 2011-12-09 16:06 GMT]
 


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