{"id":12851,"date":"2014-06-08T10:18:50","date_gmt":"2014-06-08T15:18:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu\/nll\/?p=12851"},"modified":"2014-06-08T10:18:50","modified_gmt":"2014-06-08T15:18:50","slug":"machine-translation-of-literary-sinitic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu\/nll\/?p=12851","title":{"rendered":"Machine translation of Literary Sinitic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here on Language Log, we've often talked about the great difference between Modern Standard Mandarin (MSM) and the various other Sinitic languages (e.g., Cantonese, Taiwanese, Shanghainese, etc.).\u00a0 The gap between Classical Chinese and all modern Sinitic languages is even greater than that between MSM and the other modern forms of Sinitic.\u00a0 It is like the difference between Sanskrit and Hindi, between Latin and Italian, between Classical and modern Greek.
\n
\nThe terminology for Classical Chinese<\/a>, which I prefer to style \"Literary Sinitic\", is somewhat vague.\u00a0 It is referred to variously as g\u01d4w\u00e9n<\/a> <\/i>\u53e4\u6587 (\"ancient writing\"), w\u00e9ny\u00e1n(w\u00e9n) \u6587\u8a00(\u6587) (\"literary language [writing]), g\u01d4d\u00e0i H\u00e0ny\u01d4 \u53e4\u4ee3\u6c49\u8bed (\"ancient Sintic\"), and so forth.\u00a0 Furthermore, just as there is a distinction between Vedic and later forms of Sanskrit, so are there stages in the development of Literary Sinitic.<\/p>\n

What we call this dead, book language is not so important as the fact that Literary Sinitic (LS) is not the same language as MSM or any of the other modern Sinitic vernaculars.\u00a0 Consequently, in order to read LS, someone who is literate in MSM must undergo long and arduous training, and — for those who do not know how to read LS — texts written in it must be translated into MSM.\u00a0 If you go into any decent bookstore in China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong, you will find hundreds of works written in LS that have been translated into MSM.<\/p>\n

Similar to Google Translate, Baidu (The Chinese version of Google [see \"Soon to be lost in translation<\/a>\"]) has a segment called B\u01ceid\u00f9 f\u0101ny\u00ec \u767e\u5ea6\u7ffb\u8bd1 (\"Baidu Translator\").\u00a0 I just found out today that Baidu Translator has a function for\u00a0 translating Mandarin into Classical Chinese and vice versa<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So, in emulation of our Great Leader, I decided to carry out a little Breakfast Experiment\u2122 on Baidu Translator's new function this morning.\u00a0 The text I have chosen is section 2 from chapter 6, \"D\u00e0 z\u014dngsh\u012b \u5927\u5b97\u5e08\" (\"The Great Ancestral Teacher\") of the Zhuang Zi \u838a\u5b50<\/span> (Master Zhuang)<\/a>, my favorite ancient Chinese text.<\/div>\n

Here's the LS original, from the marvelously handy Chinese Text Project<\/a>.<\/p>\n

First the transcription in MSM pronunciation, as provided by Google Translate (I have not attempted to standardize the tones, punctuation, and syllable linkage, so this is meant only as a rough guide for those who are not familiar with Chinese characters):<\/p>\n

S\u01d0sh\u0113ng, m\u00ecng y\u011b, q\u00ed y\u01d2u y\u00e8 d\u00e0n zh\u012b ch\u00e1ng, ti\u0101n y\u011b. R\u00e9n zh\u012b y\u01d2u su\u01d2 b\u00f9d\u00e9 y\u01d4, ji\u0113 w\u00f9 zh\u012b q\u00edng y\u011b. B\u01d0 t\u00e8 y\u01d0 ti\u0101n w\u00e8i f\u00f9, \u00e9r sh\u0113n y\u00f3u \u00e0i zh\u012b, \u00e9rku\u00e0ng q\u00ed zhu\u014d h\u016b! R\u00e9n t\u00e8 y\u01d0 y\u01d2u j\u016bn w\u00e8i y\u00f9 h\u016b j\u01d0, \u00e9r sh\u0113n y\u00f3u s\u01d0 zh\u012b, \u00e9rku\u00e0ng q\u00ed zh\u0113n h\u016b! Qu\u00e1n h\u00e9, y\u00fa xi\u0101ng y\u01d4 ch\u01d4y\u00fa l\u00f9, xi\u0101ng x\u01d4 y\u01d0 sh\u012b, xi\u0101ngr\u00fay\u01d0m\u00f2, b\u00f9r\u00fa xi\u0101ng w\u00e0ng y\u00fa ji\u0101ngh\u00fa. Y\u01d4q\u00ed y\u00f9 y\u00e1o \u00e9r f\u0113i ji\u00e9, b\u00f9r\u00fa li\u01ceng w\u00e0ng \u00e9r hu\u00e0 q\u00ed d\u00e0o. F\u016b d\u00e0 ku\u00e0i z\u00e0i w\u01d2 y\u01d0 x\u00edng, l\u00e1o w\u01d2 y\u01d0 sh\u0113ng, y\u00ec w\u01d2 y\u01d0 l\u01ceo, x\u012b w\u01d2 y\u01d0 s\u01d0. G\u00f9 sh\u00e0n w\u00fash\u0113ng zh\u011b, n\u01cei su\u01d2y\u01d0 sh\u00e0n w\u00fa s\u01d0 y\u011b. F\u016b c\u00e1ng zh\u014du y\u00fa h\u00e8, c\u00e1ng sh\u0101n y\u00fa z\u00e9, w\u00e8i zh\u012b g\u00f9 y\u01d0. R\u00e1n'\u00e9r y\u00e8b\u00e0n y\u01d2ul\u00ec zh\u011b f\u00f9 zh\u012b \u00e9r z\u01d2u, m\u00e8i zh\u011b b\u00f9zh\u012b y\u011b. C\u00e1ng d\u00e0xi\u01ceo y\u01d2u y\u00ed, y\u00f3u y\u01d2u su\u01d2 d\u00f9n. Ru\u00f2f\u00fa c\u00e1ng ti\u0101nxi\u00e0 y\u00fa ti\u0101nxi\u00e0, \u00e9r b\u00f9d\u00e9 su\u01d2 d\u00f9n, sh\u00ec h\u00e9ng w\u00f9 zh\u012b d\u00e0 q\u00edng y\u011b. T\u00e8 f\u00e0nr\u00e9n zh\u012b x\u00edng \u00e9r y\u00f3u x\u01d0zh\u012b, ru\u00f2 r\u00e9n zh\u012b x\u00edng zh\u011b, w\u00e0n hu\u00e0 \u00e9r w\u00e8ish\u01d0 y\u01d2u j\u00ed y\u011b, q\u00ed w\u00e9i l\u00e8 k\u011b sh\u00e8ng j\u00ec xi\u00e9! G\u00f9 sh\u00e8ngr\u00e9n ji\u0101ng y\u00f3u y\u00fa w\u00f9 zh\u012b su\u01d2 b\u00f9d\u00e9 d\u00f9n \u00e9r ji\u0113 c\u00fan. Sh\u00e0n y\u0101o sh\u00e0n l\u01ceo, sh\u00e0nsh\u01d0sh\u00e0nzh\u014dng, r\u00e9n y\u00f3u xi\u00e0o zh\u012b, y\u00f2u ku\u00e0ng w\u00e0nw\u00f9 zh\u012b su\u01d2 x\u00ec, \u00e9r y\u012b hu\u00e0 zh\u012b su\u01d2 d\u00e0i h\u016b!<\/p>\n

Now the characters:<\/p>\n

\u6b7b\u751f\uff0c\u547d\u4e5f\uff0c\u5176\u6709\u591c\u65e6\u4e4b\u5e38\uff0c\u5929\u4e5f\u3002\u4eba\u4e4b\u6709\u6240\u4e0d\u5f97\u8207\uff0c\u7686\u7269\u4e4b\u60c5\u4e5f\u3002\u5f7c\u7279\u4ee5\u5929\u70ba\u7236\uff0c\u800c\u8eab\u7336\u611b\u4e4b\uff0c\u800c\u6cc1\u5176 \u5353\u4e4e\uff01\u4eba\u7279\u4ee5\u6709\u541b\u70ba\u6108\u4e4e\u5df1\uff0c\u800c\u8eab\u7336\u6b7b\u4e4b\uff0c\u800c\u6cc1\u5176\u771f\u4e4e\uff01\u6cc9\u6db8\uff0c\u9b5a\u76f8\u8207\u8655\u65bc\u9678\uff0c\u76f8\u5474\u4ee5\u6ebc\uff0c\u76f8\u6fe1\u4ee5\u6cab\uff0c\u4e0d\u5982\u76f8\u5fd8\u65bc\u6c5f\u6e56\u3002\u8207\u5176\u8b7d\u582f\u800c\u975e\u6840\uff0c\u4e0d\u5982\u5169\u5fd8\u800c\u5316\u5176\u9053\u3002\u592b\u5927 \u584a\u8f09\u6211\u4ee5\u5f62\uff0c\u52de\u6211\u4ee5\u751f\uff0c\u4f5a\u6211\u4ee5\u8001\uff0c\u606f\u6211\u4ee5\u6b7b\u3002\u6545\u5584\u543e\u751f\u8005\uff0c\u4e43\u6240\u4ee5\u5584\u543e\u6b7b\u4e5f\u3002\u592b\u85cf\u821f\u65bc\u58d1\uff0c\u85cf\u5c71\u65bc\u6fa4\uff0c\u8b02\u4e4b\u56fa\u77e3\u3002\u7136\u800c\u591c\u534a\u6709\u529b\u8005\u8ca0\u4e4b\u800c\u8d70\uff0c\u6627\u8005\u4e0d\u77e5\u4e5f\u3002\u85cf\u5927\u5c0f \u6709\u5b9c\uff0c\u7336\u6709\u6240\u906f\u3002\u82e5\u592b\u85cf\u5929\u4e0b\u65bc\u5929\u4e0b\uff0c\u800c\u4e0d\u5f97\u6240\u906f\uff0c\u662f\u6046\u7269\u4e4b\u5927\u60c5\u4e5f\u3002\u7279\u72af\u4eba\u4e4b\u5f62\u800c\u7336\u559c\u4e4b\uff0c\u82e5\u4eba\u4e4b\u5f62\u8005\uff0c\u842c\u5316\u800c\u672a\u59cb\u6709\u6975\u4e5f\uff0c\u5176\u70ba\u6a02\u53ef\u52dd\u8a08\u90aa\uff01\u6545\u8056\u4eba\u5c07\u904a\u65bc\u7269\u4e4b \u6240\u4e0d\u5f97\u906f\u800c\u7686\u5b58\u3002\u5584\u5996\u5584\u8001\uff0c\u5584\u59cb\u5584\u7d42\uff0c\u4eba\u7336\u6548\u4e4b\uff0c\u53c8\u6cc1\u842c\u7269\u4e4b\u6240\u4fc2\uff0c\u800c\u4e00\u5316\u4e4b\u6240\u5f85\u4e4e\uff01<\/p>\n

Translation into English by James Legge:<\/p>\n

Death and life are ordained, just as we have the constant succession of night and day – in both cases from Heaven. Men have no power to do anything in reference to them – such is the constitution of things. There are those who specially regard Heaven as their father, and they still love It (distant as It is); how much more should they love That which stands out (Superior and Alone)! Some specially regard their ruler as superior to themselves, and will give their bodies to die for him; how much more should they do so for That which is their true (Ruler)! When the springs are dried up, the fishes collect together on the land. Than that they should moisten one another there by the damp about them, and keep one another wet by their slime, it would be better for them to forget one another in the rivers and lakes. And when men praise Yao and condemn Jie, it would be better to forget them both, and seek the renovation of the Dao.<\/p>\n

There is the great Mass (of nature) – I find the support of my body on it; my life is spent in toil on it; my old age seeks ease on it; at death I find rest in it – what makes my life a good makes my death also a good. If you hide away a boat in the ravine of a hill, and hide away the hill in a lake, you will say that (the boat) is secure; but at midnight there shall come a strong man and carry it off on his back, while you in the dark know nothing about it. You may hide away anything, whether small or great, in the most suitable place, and yet it shall disappear from it. But if you could hide the world in the world, so that there was nowhere to which it could be removed, this would be the grand reality of the ever-during Thing. When the body of man comes from its special mould, there is even then occasion for joy; but this body undergoes a myriad transformations, and does not immediately reach its perfection; does it not thus afford occasion for joys incalculable? Therefore the sagely man enjoys himself in that from which there is no possibility of separation, and by which all things are preserved. He considers early death or old age, his beginning and his ending, all to be good, and in this other men imitate him; how much more will they do so in regard to That Itself on which all things depend, and from which every transformation arises!<\/p>\n

Translation by Victor Mair:<\/p>\n

Life and death are destined.\u00a0 Their constant alternation, like that of day and night, is due to heaven.\u00a0 What men are unable to interfere with are the attributes of all things.\u00a0 They particularly regard heaven as their father and love it with their very person.\u00a0 How much more should they love that which surpasses heaven!\u00a0 Men particularly regard their lord as superior to themselves and would sacrifice their very person for him.\u00a0 How much more should they be willing to do so for what is truer than any lord!<\/p>\n

When springs dry up, fish huddle together on the land.\u00a0 They blow moisture on each other and keep each other wet with their slime.\u00a0 But it would be better if they could forget themselves in the rivers and lakes.\u00a0 Rather than praising Yao [sage] and condemning Chieh [tyrant], it would be better for people to forget both of them and assimilate their ways.<\/p>\n

A boat may be hidden in a gully on a hill that, in turn, is hidden away in a marsh.\u00a0 We may think this is a secure arrangement, but someone strong might come in the middle of the night and bear (both) the boat (and the hill) away, unbenknownst to the sleeping owner.\u00a0 The idea of hiding the smaller in the larger is appropriate, yet things may still disappear.\u00a0 But if we were to hide all under heaven inside of all under heaven, nothing would disappear.\u00a0 The is the great attribute of the eternality of things.\u00a0 We are especially happy when we chance to take on human form.\u00a0 What incalculable joy there is in these myriad transformations, such as human form, which never begin to reach a limit!\u00a0 Therefore, the sage wanders where things do not disappear and all are preserved.\u00a0 If people will emulate one who is good at being young and good at growing old, good at beginning and good at ending, how much more should they emulate that to which the myriad things are joined and upon which the unity of transformation depends!<\/p>\n

Google Translate (from \"Chinese\" to English):<\/p>\n

Life and death<\/span>, life also<\/span>, once<\/span> it has<\/span> the<\/span> regular<\/span> night<\/span>, the day also.<\/span> People<\/span> are<\/span> somewhat<\/span> shall not<\/span>, things<\/span> are<\/span> feeling<\/span> well.<\/span> Father Peter in days<\/span>, and still love the body<\/span>, and the status of<\/span> its<\/span> excellence<\/span> peace!<\/span> Special to<\/span> the king<\/span> who<\/span> has<\/span> almost<\/span> been<\/span> more<\/span>, but<\/span> the body<\/span>'s still<\/span> dead<\/span>, and the status of<\/span> its<\/span> true<\/span> peace!<\/span> Springs<\/span> dry up<\/span>, the fish in the<\/span> terrestrial<\/span> phase<\/span>, phase<\/span> \u00cb\u00e6<\/span> to<\/span> wet<\/span> each other, than<\/span> forget themselves in<\/span> rivers and lakes<\/span>. Jie<\/span> Yao,<\/span> rather than<\/span> its<\/span> reputation<\/span>, it is better to forget<\/span> and<\/span> two<\/span> of<\/span> its<\/span> road.<\/span> My<\/span> husband<\/span> set out<\/span> to form<\/span> chunks<\/span>, to<\/span> work my<\/span> students,<\/span> Yi<\/span> old<\/span> me<\/span>, interest me<\/span> to<\/span> death.<\/span> Gushan<\/span> my life<\/span> who<\/span> are<\/span> so<\/span> good<\/span> Wu Si<\/span> also.<\/span> Husband<\/span> in<\/span> possession of<\/span> the boat<\/span> sink<\/span>, hidden mountain<\/span> in<\/span> Chak<\/span>, that the solid<\/span> men.<\/span> However,<\/span> those who<\/span> bear<\/span> the<\/span> middle of the night<\/span> and go<\/span> strong<\/span>, ignorant<\/span> who<\/span> do not know<\/span> it<\/span>. Possession of<\/span> appropriate<\/span> size<\/span>, still somewhat<\/span> evasive<\/span>. Chizhov<\/span> hidden<\/span> world<\/span> in the world,<\/span> and not<\/span> the<\/span> escape<\/span>, the<\/span> big<\/span> thing<\/span> is the constant<\/span> feeling<\/span> also.<\/span> The<\/span> special<\/span> shape of<\/span> the prisoners<\/span> still<\/span> hi<\/span>, if<\/span> people<\/span> are<\/span> to shape,<\/span> but<\/span> might come<\/span> of<\/span> a very<\/span> Wan<\/span> also<\/span> its<\/span> win total<\/span> for the music<\/span> can be<\/span> evil<\/span>! Therefore the sage<\/span> will<\/span> swim in<\/span> the<\/span> matter<\/span> shall not<\/span> escape<\/span> and<\/span> were<\/span> kept<\/span>. Good<\/span> good<\/span> old<\/span> demon<\/span>, from start to finish<\/span>, people<\/span> are<\/span> still<\/span> effective<\/span>, and the<\/span> system<\/span> state<\/span> of all things,<\/span> and<\/span> one<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> subject<\/span> of<\/span> peace<\/span>!<\/span><\/p>\n

Baidu Fanyi (from Zhongwen to English):<\/p>\n

[N.B.:\u00a0 Zhongwen is essentially the written form of Modern Standard Mandarin; see the discussion in \"Is Cantonese a language, or a personification of the devil?\" <\/a>and in the comments thereto.]<\/p>\n

Life and death, life is also, the night the day dawn. People have not, all physical passion. Pete in the day the father, and who still love, let alone the Zhuo hu! People with you more on oneself, but the body dead, let alone its true almost! Spring up, fish and on land, mutual help in time of poverty, to each other, not forget themselves in the rivers and lakes. And Yu Yao not Jie, not forget the road two. Husband's big block carrying me on shape, I lost my work with students, to the old, making me to death. So good I living, is so good I die. The husband hiding the boat in gully, mountain in Ze, is solid. However, the powerful negative while walking, he also do not know. Reservoir size is appropriate, still has his father. Ruofu reservoir in the world and not the world, Tun, is the great truth of things. Special shape and still like the prisoner, if the person is shaped, all the while there was never a pole, the music can be of evil! Therefore the sage will travel to that which cannot be Tun and all. Good good old demon, begin well and end well, people and performance, and the conditions of all things, and one of the stay!<\/p>\n

Bing Translator (from Chinese to English):<\/p>\n

Life and death, life, night-Dan, the heavens. Who has not, love. Father Peter in days, and still love it, erkuang it! People in June for himself, death, erkuang it! Springs to dry up and fish facies and in-land, Xu to wet a pair, it is better to forget each other in rivers and lakes. Yu Yao rather Jie, than two of its forgotten road. Chunk contains I-shape, Dr I was born, and lost my old, interest me to death. So good I was so good, I die. Hide boats at gully, cangshan Huizer, is known as the solid. However middle of strong negative, though I do not know. Hide size which I still Dun. Ruofu Tibetan world to light and not DUN, is a constant. Prisoners while Yoshiyuki, man-shaped, and there was nothing else there, whose WINS included the evil! Saints will swim in the matter shall not be deposited Dun. Good and evil to good old, act in person-activity, condition of things, and one of the!<\/span><\/p>\n

Baidu Fanyi (from Wenyanwen to Zhongwen):<\/p>\n

\u751f\u6b7b\uff0c\u547d\u4ee4\u4e86\uff0c\u5b83\u6709\u591c\u65e9\u6668\u7684\u5e38\u89c4\uff0c\u5929\u554a\u3002\u4eba\u4e4b\u6709\u4e0d\u5f97\u4e0e\uff0c\u90fd\u662f\u52a8\u7269\u7684\u60c5\u51b5\u3002\u4ed6\u7279\u522b\u4ee5\u5929\u4e3a\u7236\uff0c\u800c\u6211\u8fd8\u7231\u4ed6\uff0c\u4f55\u51b5\u4ed6\u5353\u8d8a\u5417\uff01\u4eba\u53ea\u56e0\u4e3a\u6709\u4f60\u4e3a\u8d85\u8d8a\u81ea\u5df1\uff0c\u800c\u6211\u8fd8\u662f\u6b7b\u4e86\uff0c\u4f55\u51b5\u4ed6\u771f\u7684\u5462\uff01\u6cc9\u6c34\u5e72\u6db8\uff0c\u9c7c\u76f8\u5904\u4e8e\u9646\uff0c\u7528\u6e7f\u76f8\u55b7\u51fa\uff0c\u76f8\u6fe1\u4ee5\u6cab\uff0c\u4e0d\u5982\u76f8\u5fd8\u4e8e\u6c5f\u6e56\u3002\u4e0e\u5176\u8d5e\u8a89\u5510\u5c27\u975e\u8bae\u590f\u6840\uff0c\u4e0d\u5982\u4e24\u5fd8\u800c\u53d8\u5316\u7684\u89c4\u5f8b\u3002\u5927\u5730\u628a\u6211\u7684\u5f62\u4f53\uff0c\u4f7f\u6211\u4ee5\u751f\uff0c\u6211\u4ee5\u6211\u5b89\u9038\uff0c\u606f\u6211\u62fc\u547d\u3002\u6240\u4ee5\u5bf9\u6211\u751f\u6d3b\u7684\u4eba\uff0c\u6b63\u662f\u56e0\u4e3a\u5bf9\u6211\u6b7b\u4e86\u3002\u628a\u8239\u85cf\u5728\u5c71\u8c37\uff0c\u85cf\u5728\u6df1\u5c71\u8349\u6cfd\uff0c\u662f\u7684\u5f53\u7136\u4e86\u3002\u7136\u800c\uff0c\u534a\u591c\u6709\u5927\u529b\u58eb\u80cc\u7740\u5b83\u9003\u8dd1\uff0c\u611a\u6627\u7684\u4eba\u4e0d\u77e5\u9053\u7684\u3002\u85cf\u5927\u5c0f\u6709\u5e94\u8be5\uff0c\u4ecd\u7136\u4f1a\u6709\u4e22\u5931\u3002\u81f3\u4e8e\u85cf\u5929\u4e0b\u4e8e\u5929\u4e0b\uff0c\u800c\u4e0d\u4f1a\u4e22\u5931\uff0c\u8fd9\u662f\u4e00\u822c\u4e8b\u7269\u7684\u5927\u60c5\u5f62\u3002\u7279\u4fb5\u72af\u4eba\u7684\u5f62\u4f53\u800c\u8fd8\u9ad8\u5174\u7684\uff0c\u5982\u679c\u4eba\u7684\u8eab\u4f53\u7684\uff0c\u4e07\u7269\u5374\u4e0d\u66fe\u6709\u6781\u4e86\uff0c\u4ed6\u662f\u97f3\u4e50\u53ef\u4ee5\u8ba1\u7b97\u5417\uff01\u6240\u4ee5\u5723\u4eba\u5c06\u6e38\u4e8e\u4e07\u7269\u6240\u4e0d\u80fd\u9003\u907f\u800c\u90fd\u5b58\u5728\u3002\u597d\u5996\u602a\u597d\u8001\uff0c\u5584\u59cb\u5584\u7ec8\uff0c\u4eba\u4eec\u4ecd\u7136\u6709\u6548\u7684\uff0c\u53c8\u4f55\u51b5\u4e07\u7269\u4e4b\u6240\u7cfb\uff0c\u800c\u4e00\u5316\u7684\u7b49\u5f85\u4ec0\u4e48\u5462\uff01<\/p>\n

Baidu Fanyi (taking the Zhongwen just above and translating it to English {I couldn't get Baidu Fanyi to go directly from Wenyanwen to English]):<\/p>\n

Life and death, command, it is night morning routine, oh. A person who has not, is the animal. He particularly to-day father, but I still love him, and he was excellent too! Only because of you is beyond ourselves, and I was dead, and he was true! The springs dried up, the fish is in the land, by the wet phase out, each other, better known in the arena. With the acclaimed Tang Yao criticism Xia Jie, as two forget the variation rule. The earth in my body, make me with students, I am in my comfort, I desperately information. So in my life, it is because of my death. The boat that hide in the valley, hidden in the deep mountains swamp, yes. However, in the middle of the night with Hercules carrying it away, a person who doesn't know. Reservoir size should be, there will still be lost. As for hidden in the world, and will not be lost, it is generally the case. Special infringement of the body but also happy, if the human body, things don't have very much, he is the music can be calculated! Therefore the sage will swim in all things cannot get there. Better the devil the good old, begin well and end well, people are still effective, and so all the lines, and one of the waiting for what!<\/p>\n

Bonus!\u00a0 I was surprised to discover that Baidu Fanyi supposedly has a Cantonese fucntion, so I decided to try it out too.<\/p>\n

Baidu Fanyi (from Wenyanwen to Cantonese):<\/p>\n

\u751f\u6b7b\uff0c\u547d\u4ee4\u4e86\uff0c\u5b83\u6709\u591c\u65e9\u6668\u7684\u5e38\u89c4\uff0c\u5929\u554a\u3002\u4eba\u4e4b\u6709\u4e0d\u5f97\u4e0e\uff0c\u90fd\u662f\u52a8\u7269\u7684\u60c5\u51b5\u3002\u4ed6\u7279\u522b\u4ee5\u5929\u4e3a\u7236\uff0c\u800c\u6211\u8fd8\u7231\u4ed6\uff0c\u4f55\u51b5\u4ed6\u5353\u8d8a\u5417\uff01\u4eba\u53ea\u56e0\u4e3a\u6709\u4f60\u4e3a\u8d85\u8d8a\u81ea\u5df1\uff0c\u800c\u6211\u8fd8\u662f\u6b7b \u4e86\uff0c\u4f55\u51b5\u4ed6\u771f\u7684\u5462\uff01\u6cc9\u6c34\u5e72\u6db8\uff0c\u9c7c\u76f8\u5904\u4e8e\u9646\uff0c\u7528\u6e7f\u76f8\u55b7\u51fa\uff0c\u76f8\u6fe1\u4ee5\u6cab\uff0c\u4e0d\u5982\u76f8\u5fd8\u4e8e\u6c5f\u6e56\u3002\u4e0e\u5176\u8d5e\u8a89\u5510\u5c27\u975e\u8bae\u590f\u6840\uff0c\u4e0d\u5982\u4e24\u5fd8\u800c\u53d8\u5316\u7684\u89c4\u5f8b\u3002\u5927\u5730\u628a\u6211\u7684\u5f62\u4f53\uff0c\u4f7f\u6211\u4ee5 \u751f\uff0c\u6211\u4ee5\u6211\u5b89\u9038\uff0c\u606f\u6211\u62fc\u547d\u3002\u6240\u4ee5\u5bf9\u6211\u751f\u6d3b\u7684\u4eba\uff0c\u6b63\u662f\u56e0\u4e3a\u5bf9\u6211\u6b7b\u4e86\u3002\u628a\u8239\u85cf\u5728\u5c71\u8c37\uff0c\u85cf\u5728\u6df1\u5c71\u8349\u6cfd\uff0c\u662f\u7684\u5f53\u7136\u4e86\u3002\u7136\u800c\uff0c\u534a\u591c\u6709\u5927\u529b\u58eb\u80cc\u7740\u5b83\u9003\u8dd1\uff0c\u611a\u6627\u7684\u4eba\u4e0d\u77e5 \u9053\u7684\u3002\u85cf\u5927\u5c0f\u6709\u5e94\u8be5\uff0c\u4ecd\u7136\u4f1a\u6709\u4e22\u5931\u3002\u81f3\u4e8e\u85cf\u5929\u4e0b\u4e8e\u5929\u4e0b\uff0c\u800c\u4e0d\u4f1a\u4e22\u5931\uff0c\u8fd9\u662f\u4e00\u822c\u4e8b\u7269\u7684\u5927\u60c5\u5f62\u3002\u7279\u4fb5\u72af\u4eba\u7684\u5f62\u4f53\u800c\u8fd8\u9ad8\u5174\u7684\uff0c\u5982\u679c\u4eba\u7684\u8eab\u4f53\u7684\uff0c\u4e07\u7269\u5374\u4e0d\u66fe\u6709\u6781 \u4e86\uff0c\u4ed6\u662f\u97f3\u4e50\u53ef\u4ee5\u8ba1\u7b97\u5417\uff01\u6240\u4ee5\u5723\u4eba\u5c06\u6e38\u4e8e\u4e07\u7269\u6240\u4e0d\u80fd\u9003\u907f\u800c\u90fd\u5b58\u5728\u3002\u597d\u5996\u602a\u597d\u8001\uff0c\u5584\u59cb\u5584\u7ec8\uff0c\u4eba\u4eec\u4ecd\u7136\u6709\u6548\u7684\uff0c\u53c8\u4f55\u51b5\u4e07\u7269\u4e4b\u6240\u7cfb\uff0c\u800c\u4e00\u5316\u7684\u7b49\u5f85\u4ec0\u4e48\u5462\uff01<\/p>\n

The result seems to be identical to the Wenyanwen to Mandarin version.\u00a0 I would appreciate it if Language Log readers who are familiar with Cantonese would see what Baidu Fanyi does with texts between Cantonese and Mandarin, and between Cantonese and English.<\/p>\n

Verdict on the Wenyanwen (LS \/ Classical Chinese) capability of Baidu Fanyi:\u00a0 so far, it is next to useless.<\/p>\n

[Thanks to Wei Shao]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here on Language Log, we've often talked about the great difference between Modern Standard Mandarin (MSM) and the various other Sinitic languages (e.g., Cantonese, Taiwanese, Shanghainese, etc.).\u00a0 The gap between Classical Chinese and all modern Sinitic languages is even greater than that between MSM and the other modern forms of Sinitic.\u00a0 It is like the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[196,205],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12851","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-language-and-computers","category-translation"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu\/nll\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12851","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu\/nll\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu\/nll\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu\/nll\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu\/nll\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12851"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu\/nll\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12851\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12856,"href":"https:\/\/languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu\/nll\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12851\/revisions\/12856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu\/nll\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu\/nll\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu\/nll\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}