Today’s Style Invitational asked entrants to run a phrase through the Google translator, then translate it back to English again:
Third runner-up: I never yet met a man that I didn’t like.
(From Spanish) I never satisfied a man yet with which I did not have pleasure.
(Jeff Martin, Gaithersburg)First runner-up: Google translates text with no errors.
(From Portuguese) Google translates the text with nenhuns errors.
(Scott Campisi, Wake Village, Tex.)And the winner: I am the worst president elected ever.
(From French) I am the worst president never elected.
(Kevin N. Mettinger, Warrenton)Don’t mess with Texas.
(Spanish) It does not soil with Roofing tiles.
(Rose Abril, Reston)Some men are born great.
(Portuguese) Some men are great loaded.
(Diane Tomasky, Frederick; Jeff Martin)I’ll be working my way back to you, babe, with a burning love inside.
(Portuguese) I will be working my back part to it in the way, dribble, with a burning hot love for inside.
(Stephen Dudzik, Olney)We will never surrender the fight!
(French) We will never return the combat!
(Jonathan Obee, Washington)Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him.
(German) Alas, bad Yorick, I could do him.
(Jim Pearson, Alexandria)Picking out the man’s outfit is a woman’s job.
(French) The selection of the equipment of the man is the work of a woman.
(Milo Sauer, Fairfax)If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve.
(French) If named, I did not run. So elected, I will not be useful.
(John Junker, Manassas; Chris Doyle)
