atw: Re: Translation freeware?

The Google Language Tools page will have a crack at translating German and French, though not Dutch: 
http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en


Here's how I'd do a 'proof of concept':
1. Translate one small (200-400 words) but representative topic using free tools. For example, here's Google's translation of some German documentation: 

   "This chapter supplies a short overview of the bases of
   the microscopy. Their understanding helps you to seize the
   further information and makes you a by far more effective
   Mikroskopiker.

   In its structure the eye is related to the camera. The curved
   surface of the cornea/callosity sketches the optical picture
   on the retina to muscles together with through the adjustable
   lens. The incident holyness is regulated over the variable
   diameter of an iris..."
2. Clean up the translated text with the help of a German-English dictionary. Note how long it took.
3. Ask a German-speaking friend to compare my English version with the German original and to highlight and fix any gross errors (i.e. where the meaning has been changed). Note how long it took.
4. Test that the translated topic is comprehensible to a few representative readers.
This should give you an idea of how long it will take for you and your bilingual friends to come up with a basically usable set of translations. 

Stuart
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