Machine Translation Humor

Studying computational linguistics isn't dull. There is always something to laugh about, including the subject itself.

Courtesy: xkcd #114

Lets look at that classic illustration of Machine Translation(MT) of the English phrase The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak to Russian and back. Lets see what would we get if we try with Japanese today.

• The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak Let's start
• 精神が、肉体が弱い喜んで into Japanese
• Spirit, willing flesh weak back into English
• 精神は、喜んで、肉は弱い back into Japanese
• Spirit is willing, flesh is weak back into English
• 精神、肉体が弱い喜んで back into Japanese
• Spirit, I'd have a weak body back into English
• 精神を、私は弱い体がしたい back into Japanese
• Spirit, I want a weak body back into English
• 精神を、私は、弱い体を back into Japanese
• Spirit, I have a weak body back into English
• 精神を、私は弱い肉体を持って back into Japanese
• Spirit, I have a weak body back into English

View the complete results at Translation party.