Easy and effective ways to convert articles written in English

Article translation

[Grassroots]

Hi, I run a website that has a multi-international readership and I'd like to allow these readers to read articles in their native language.

I can't afford to pay translators and anyway, the logistics of that just isn't preferable to the type of articles we publish, which are pretty much on the button type of articles. I.e. they comment/report on news as it's happening.

Are there any scripts out there that could translate articles live online, where a reader clicks his/her flag for example, and they get the article in their language?

Thanks

PS Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, please move if so :)

[tbear]

There are several ways to do this, but none of them, as far as I know, will give a particularly good translation, sadly :(

[Grassroots]

Yeah, that's a bummer.

I'm no programmer, but for anyone out there that is, could a script be created that gets around this problem of certain words not being easily translated, by allowing an admin for example to filter these words?

EG the word "canny" will not be translated because it's slang or generic to a certain language, so in admin, replace that word with "good" or "nice" which is what the word means.

Basically the script searches for words like Canny and replaces them with words that will translate.

Does that make sense?

[tbear]

Ahhh, but then you have words in English, such as 'language', which in Spanish translates to lengua, which translated back to English (can) mean(s) 'tongue' :)

Then you have grammer peculiarities and coloquial sayings.

There are enough differences between (English) English and (American) English to keep a machine confused for a long time, LOL...

I was a little surprised to realise that an American would say, "You could care less", when a Brit would say, "You could'nt care less".
Confusing, to say the least!

A whole can of words, I mean worms.... ;)

[Grassroots]

Thanks for pouring vinegar over my chips ;)

*scratches this off the ideas list*

BTW If someone could somehow create such a script or apt, mega bucks to be made as I'd pay for such a thing.

*hopes some super programmer reads and gets a brain wave*

[malachite]

There are enough differences between (English) English and (American) English to keep a machine confused for a long time

LOL. With each UK area having its own dialect, phrasing and nuances - even down to language differences between neighbouring towns - there are enough differences between [English] English itself to confuse a machine, never mind introducing American English or foreign languages ;)