Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Google Translator Better than ICEL

Probably, at some time or another, we've all laughed when using Goggle translator. But this is the first time I've laughed because Google is better than an official translation.

Fr. Z had some fun last week with an ICEL translation of the Collect for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary time:

Here's the Latin original:

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus,
qui abundantia pietatis tuae
et merita supplicum excedis et vota,
effunde super nos misericordiam tuam,
ut dimittas quae conscientia metuit,
et adicias quod oratio non praesumit.

Via Google translator:

Almighty and everlasting God,
who in the abundance of Thy goodness
and exceed the proper and just punishment and vows,
pour it out upon us mercy,
‘so that the consciousness of forgive
what they fear him and will add to what we do not dare to ask.

Via Fr. Z's "Slavishly literal version":


Almighty and everlasting God, who in the abundance of Your goodness
surpass both the merits and the prayerful vows of suppliants,
pour forth Your mercy upon us,
so that You set aside those things which our conscience fears,
and apply what our prayer dares not.

Via the "Lame Duck ICEL" :


Father,
your love for us
surpasses all our hopes and desires.
Forgive our failings,
keep us in your peace
and lead us in the way of salvation.


As one commenter said:

How in the world did they go from “Omnipotens sempiterne Deus” to “Father”??

1 comment:

quiddity2001 said...

Made me laugh even though the truth of it is so sad.