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Google Translate (bis)

TES discussion here:  http://community.tes.co.uk/forums/t/531090.aspx
OK. So, how about an advanced piece of French to English? Here is an original extract from slate.fr about the abuse of anti-depressants in the USA:

La dernière épidémie qui touche les Etats-Unis n'est pas une maladie mais une addiction: héroïne, cocaïne? Non, telle une armée de Dr. House, les Américains se tuent à coup de vicodine, méthadone et autres puissants antidouleurs, médicaments sur ordonnance.

Le Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (Centre pour la prévention et le contrôle des maladies, l'agence fédérale de santé publique qui avait notamment publié un très bon guide pour survivre en cas d'invasion zombie) sort un rapport alarmant: plus de gens meurent d'overdoses d'antidouleur aux Etats-Unis désormais que ceux qui meurent d'overdoses d'héroïne et de cocaïne! Un niveau qui a atteint celui d'épidémie dans la dernière décennie, explique le CDC.


Here is the unadulterated translation from Google translate:

The last epidemic in the United States is not a disease but an addiction: heroin, cocaine? No, such an army of Dr. House, Americans kill themselves to blow Vicodin, methadone and other potent painkillers, prescription drugs.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Center for Prevention and Disease Control, the agency Federal Public Health who had published such a great guide for survival in case of zombie invasion) comes an alarming report: more people die of overdose of painkillers in the U.S. now that those who die of overdoses of heroin and cocaine! A level that it reached an epidemic in the last decade, says the CDC.


Not so good, eh? Now I'll see if i can improve on the above version by looking at some other options:


The latest epidemic in the United States is not a disease but an addiction: heroin, cocaine? No, as a host of House MD, Americans are killed with shot Vicodin, methadone and other potent painkillers, prescription drugs.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Center for Prevention and Disease Control, the agency Federal Public Health who had published such a very good guide for survival in the event of zombie invasion) comes an alarming report: more people die of overdose of painkillers in the U.S. now that those who die of overdoses of heroin and cocaine! A level which it has reached an epidemic in the last decade, says the CDC.


Better, but a significant issue is word order, as when you highlight words for other options, you do not get the option of changing word order, although you could certainly do this yourself.


There is no doubt that Google translate is an extremely useful tool for non-linguists who need a reasonable, rough and ready  translation, but you would not rely on it for a letter to a solicitor!



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