電腦翻譯

最近常常看到一些電腦界的大亨在吹噓電腦翻譯科技的進步。依照這些人的說法，幾年內電腦便可以即時翻譯人類的語言。同時，Microsoft最近宣稱他們新的搜尋引擎將可以回答人們用一般問句所問的問題。我猜想如果Microsoft新的搜索引擎真的如他們所說的那麼神奇的話，那最常被問的一個問題應該是：「Who is the most beautiful person in the world?」如果我們先進的Microsoft電腦有點常識的話，它應該能夠在一千億分之一秒之內答出正確答案：「YOU」。

Anyway，為了要測試一下電腦翻譯的強度，我把我的網站上的一篇文章「The Tale of Three Trees」拿去翻譯了一下。以下是原文的節錄以及翻譯的節錄：

原文：

THE TALE OF THREE TREES

A Traditional Folktale Retold by Angela Etwell Hunt. Materials From “The Tale of Three Trees”, Chariot Victor Publishing, Copyright 1989.

Once upon a mountaintop, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.

The first little tree looked up at the stars twinkling like diamonds above him. “I want to hold treasure,” he said. “I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I will be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be a strong sailing ship,” he said. “I want to travel mighty waters and carry powerful kings. I will be the strongest ship in the world!”

The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and busy women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave this mountaintop at all,” she said. “I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they will raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world!”

Years passed. The rains came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall.

One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.

翻譯：

傳說的三樹

一個傳統民間故事由Angela Etwell 狩獵重述。材料從”三棵樹的傳說”, 運輸車勝者出版, 版權1989 年。

一次在山頂, 三棵小的樹站立了和作夢什麼他們要成為何時他們長大。

一少許樹看了在星閃光像金剛石在他之上。”我想要舉行珍寶,”他說。”我想要用金子被蓋和被填裝與寶石。我將是最美麗的珍寶胸口世界!”

二少許樹看了在在小小河之外滴下在它的途中對海洋。”我想要是一艘強的帆船,”他說。”我想要旅行強大水和運載強有力的國王。我將是最強的船世界!”

三少許樹看了下來入谷如下繁忙的人和繁忙的婦女服務在繁忙的地方鎮。”我不想要留下這個山頂根本,”她說。”我想要增長很高當人中止看我他們將舉他們的眼睛對天堂和認為上帝。我最高樹在世界上!”

幾年通過。雨來, 太陽發光, 並且小的樹增長高。

一天三伐木工人攀登山。

評析：
本文作者深諳後現代文言文之精妙寫作技巧。其用法如「一次在山頂」、「在小小河之外滴下在它的途中」皆為最上等之後現代中文用法。文末之「雨來，太陽發光」，更是深情地點出了整篇文章之精髓所在。盼各位同學多以此效法，精進筆法，無以窮盡。