lexipixel - 5:48 pm on Apr 28, 2006 (gmt 0)

I've used Babelfish for "clues" to translation for years, (back since it was part of AltaVista's site).

It works well for one or two word translations --- BUT I would definitely not consider it a trusted source for translation.

The simplest test I can think of is; enter a short block of text; translate it from its native language to some other language, then back to the original language.... this give you an idea of how well it works.

example-

TRANSLATE: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
(from English to French)

RESULT: "Donnez à un homme un poisson et vous l'alimentez pendant un jour. Enseignez un homme à pêcher et vous l'alimentez pour une vie."

TRANSLATE (above French result back to English)

RESULT: "Give to a man a fish and feed it to you during one day. Teach a man to be fished and feed it to you for a life."

...close, but would you want to hinge your international reputation on it?