On occasion one of our clients inquires about the various English to Spanish translations tools available online. While these tools are not yet to a state of development where they’re 100% reliable, they have their place. Here’s an interesting test.

What follows is a paragraph of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address in English:

“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Here’s the automated English-to-Spanish translation using the Google tool:

Pero, en un sentido más amplio, no podemos dedicar – no podemos consagrar – no podemos hallow – este terreno. Los valientes hombres, vivos y muertos, que lucharon aquí, lo han consagrado, muy por encima de nuestras pobres facultades para añadir o restar. El mundo se nota poco, ni recordará durante mucho tiempo lo que decimos aquí, pero nunca podrá olvidar lo que hicieron aquí. Es para nosotros la vida, más bien, que se dedica aquí al trabajo inacabado que ellos que lucharon aquí hasta la fecha han avanzado tan noblemente. Es más bien para nosotros estar aquí dedicado a la gran tarea que tenemos ante nosotros restantes – que de estos muertos honrados nos tomamos una mayor dedicación a esa causa por la que se dio la última plenitud de la devoción – que estamos aquí muy resolver que estos muertos no se han muerto en vano – de que esta nación, bajo Dios, tendrá un nuevo nacimiento de libertad – y que el gobierno del pueblo, por el pueblo y para el pueblo, no perecerá de la tierra.

Finally here’s the automated Spanish-to-English translation of the first translation. You be the judge.

But in a broader sense, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not Halloween – this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or subtract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but can never forget what they did here. It gives us life, rather, that here is dedicated to unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which was the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these No deaths have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that the government of the people, by the people and for the people, not perish from the earth.

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