Posted:
Sunday, July 13, 2008 17:18 GMT | Post #150625 +0-0 |
Andreas Nilsson
Regular  Mother tongue: SwedishPosts: 631 Joined: Thursday, July 03, 2008 Location: United States |
Google - A translators best friend
I use google hundreds of times during a job. It is the best search engine out there but I have realized there's a lot of tips and tricks only known to a selected few.
On the other hand, there's also a lot of fun stuff you can do with google. I intend to dedicate this thread to a better way of using google in ways that might make life easier for translators.
If you have any valuable tips and tricks please share.
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Posted:
Sunday, July 13, 2008 17:25 GMT | Post #150627—in reply to #150625 +0-0 |
Andreas Nilsson
Regular Mother tongue: SwedishPosts: 631 Joined: Thursday, July 03, 2008 Location: United States |
RE: Google - A translators best friend
The first thing I can contribute with is the time and converter functions built in to googles search engine.
As an example: I recently communicated with an agency in Asia, while I live in U.S. The time difference is difficult but google can help.
Just type, without the quotes: "What time is it in stockholm"
And google will tell you the local time. Try it out! It's handy...
Another helpful thing is the converting google have. I recently needed some measurments converted so I typed, without the quotes: "100 m in yards" and google tells me. This works with most measurments, really handy sometimes. You can also try this with other things you don't want to calculate, type: "minutes in hour".
Enjoy and keep filling this thread, good stuff.
[Edited by Andreas Nilsson on Sunday, July 13, 2008 17:27]
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Posted:
Sunday, July 13, 2008 20:43 GMT | Post #150634—in reply to #150625 +0-0 |
Harry Bornemann
Expert   Mother tongue: GermanPosts: 1373Joined: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 Location: Mexico
(removed) |
RE: Google - A translators best friend
Is Google for adults only?
I am working on a way to google more efficiently, so I read their Terms of Service and don't understand (since it seems also to be valid for Google Search):Google Terms of Service2. Accepting the Terms
2.1 In order to use the Services, you must firstly agree to the Terms. You may not use the Services if you do not accept the Terms.
2.2 You can accept the Terms by:
(A) clicking to accept or agree to the Terms, where this option is made available to you by Google in the user interface for any Service; or
(B) by actually using the Services. In this case, you understand and agree that Google will treat your use of the Services as acceptance of the Terms from that point onwards.
2.3 You may not use the Services and may not accept the Terms if (a) you are not of legal age to form a binding contract with Google, or (b) you are a person barred from receiving the Services under the laws of the United States or other countries including the country in which you are resident or from which you use the Services.
http://www.google.de/accounts/TOS?hl=en
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Posted:
Sunday, July 13, 2008 21:00 GMT | Post #150635—in reply to #150625 +0-0 |
Andreas Nilsson
Regular Mother tongue: SwedishPosts: 631 Joined: Thursday, July 03, 2008 Location: United States |
RE: Google - A translators best friend
I'm impressed... Firstly I'm impressed that you read google's terms and second, I'm impressed that you found something like that.
Yeah, that must mean that minors legally can't use google... Interesting.
Great stuff
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Posted:
Monday, July 14, 2008 11:48 GMT | Post #150677—in reply to #150625 +0-0 |
D. T.
Elite Veteran  Mother tongue: EnglishPosts: 664Joined: Sunday, August 03, 2003 Location: United States
(removed) |
RE: Google - A translators best friend
I translate a lot of handwritten text, often unclear, full of misspellings, etc., where it is impossible to determine a particular word, and where the surrounding context is of little help. I use Google and type in as much of the word as I can make out in order to receive the "Did you mean xxx?" statement. This often gives me what I am looking for, or at least a starting point of trying to figure out the word in question.
David
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Posted:
Monday, July 14, 2008 12:11 GMT | Post #150680—in reply to #150625 +0-0 |
Nanna Mercer
TC Master
Mother tongues: English, Danish
Joined: Saturday, February 12, 2005
Location: Denmark |
RE: Google - A translators best friend
This is a trick I was taught by our resident Pole: Jack Wakes Kirk. No! whose new name is mentioned in Post #150511. For example 'Define: anagram' Any word, term or thing that you are uncertain about, use the 'define:' trick. Nanna
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Posted:
Monday, July 14, 2008 12:26 GMT | Post #150681—in reply to #150625 +0-0 |
Andreas Nilsson
Regular Mother tongue: SwedishPosts: 631 Joined: Thursday, July 03, 2008 Location: United States |
RE: Google - A translators best friend
Nanna, that's excellent. Could be very useful.
Just tried it on a translation, works like a charm.
David, the "did you mean... " statement have also helped me more than once. A translation with a typo can be hell to figure out. Suddenly everything makes sense as google corrects the word for you...
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Posted:
Monday, July 14, 2008 12:30 GMT | Post #150683—in reply to #150625 +0-0 |
Andreas Nilsson
Regular Mother tongue: SwedishPosts: 631 Joined: Thursday, July 03, 2008 Location: United States |
RE: Google - A translators best friend
I've recently realized that google limit my search alternatives depending on the language I've chosen google to operate in. If you can't get good enough searches in a specific language, change the operating language by clicking preferences.
I've also noticed that the location of my IP makes a lot of difference too. Try it with a proxy and see what other hits you might get.
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Posted:
Monday, July 14, 2008 12:40 GMT | Post #150684—in reply to #150683 +0-0 |
Harry Bornemann
Expert Mother tongue: GermanPosts: 1373Joined: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 Location: Mexico
(removed) |
RE: Google - A translators best friend
I found out that it is not possible to start a Google search from Perl, while it is still possible at Yahoo and Altavista. Now I am trying to find out whether it may work with JavaScript...
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Posted:
Monday, July 14, 2008 12:45 GMT | Post #150685—in reply to #150683 +0-0 |
Nanna Mercer
TC Master
Mother tongues: English, Danish
Joined: Saturday, February 12, 2005
Location: Denmark |
RE: Google - A translators best friend
Originally written by Andreas Nilsson on July 14, 2008 6:30 PM
....google limit my search alternatives depending on the language I've chosen ...
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It certainly does. I rarely if ever use Google Danish. I use it only when researching the English equivalent of the sometimes incredibly made-up, compound words like for example: 'ulykkesbefordrende' which will get you three hits.  Great thread, Andreas. Nanna
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