So looking at the Chinese translation of The Better Men reminded me of how some folks were running their fic through Google Translate purely to laugh at the results. I decided to see how Google puts Noir’s Chinese translation back into English. And now I am dying of laughter. I should note very emphatically that I am making fun of Google Translate, this is NOT a judgment on Noir’s translating skills! Which I actually have no way of evaluating, since I don’t speak Chinese.
The highlights: MANY AFFAIRS RIDDEN. PRUDENT TO MAINTAIN FEELINGS OF BLANK EYES. SUBTLE ATMOSPHERE OF MUTUAL GAZE. It’s like refrigerator magnet poetry - peculiar and random but strangely beautiful. I love it!
Double-translated version:
“What the hell, our ‘beloved’ teacher this week, I do not know went to where they are going, the students at any time, we do not even Potions teacher did not find —- Winky, that re- left to put a little, thank you … ”
Charles wiped the sweat from his brow, and finally look around about pull Ravenclaw College lounge. Long time staring at those floating in the air blue, bronze banner, eagle hospital emblem, as well as inclusions in which from time to time, twinkling stars, he has been unable to distinguish these decorative overall effect in the end is the icing on the cake is still a mess. At this point, can only be the case.
“Well, you guys have been good enough, thank you for your help.” house elf who their choices, Charles will have all kinds of strange to wait for them. He turned to the door. 5 minutes ago, I should be in the auditorium .. as dean of the School of Ravenclaw even if already many affairs ridden, but he was also a duty - Vice-Chancellor - to more than simply a drop in the bucket.
~~~
Original:
“—students will be arriving any moment and we’ve barely seen our dear headmaster in a bloody week, we still don’t have a Potions master — Winky, pull that one up a bit on the left, thank you…” Charles wiped sweat from his forehead, giving the Ravenclaw common room one last look-over. He’d been staring at blue and bronze banners, dangling eagles and glimmering stars for so long now, he hardly knew whether the overall effect was celebratory or simply cluttered. It would have to do. “All right, chaps, good enough. Thanks for the assistance.”
The house-elves scattered to the hundred-odd other duties Charles knew had to be waiting for them, and Charles turned to the door. Should have been in the Great Hall five minutes past… His duties as Head of Ravenclaw House were plentiful, but little enough compared to his responsibilities as Deputy Headmaster, especially under a headmaster like Sebastian Shaw, whose preference, apparently, was to keep to his tower for days at a time and leave all the real work to his deputy.
~~~~~
Double-translated version:
decades, Erik seems to be going fairly well. The graduation is a sculpted physique, handsome (especially when the side is as skinny as Charles, clumsy guy), he looked tall and straight and mature. Charles can not help but think to the contrary in this decade just become more gaunt, more clumsy. Erik’s brand-new robes neat, his back was giving her hair smooth and perfect. Charles unconscious Lizheng the own gown, poke face hair. In Erik expressionless face, had been prudent to maintain feelings of blank eyes, flashed sparks like happy or sad.
“…. The first year of coaching, of course, my opinion, he need assistance in many ways,” Shaw said. “Charles is a principal can have the most deputy, Erik, and have years of experience serving. I do not, then, if you need any advice, do not hesitate to look for him …” he began and stopped, as if just noticed that among the new Potions teacher and Divination teacher, that subtle atmosphere of mutual gaze.
~~~
Original:
The last decade had been kind to Erik; already a handsome, well-built young man at graduation (especially next to a scrawny, awkward thing like Charles), he now had a breadth and maturity that sat well on him. Charles couldn’t help feeling he himself had only grown scrawnier and more awkward in the same amount of time. Erik’s robes were sharp and new, his hair combed back perfect and smooth. Almost unconsciously, Charles tugged his robe straight, brushed his hair out of his face. Erik’s eyes, until now carefully blank in a rigidly neutral face, flickered with something like amusement or pain.
“—first year teaching, of course, so I expect he’ll need a certain amount of assistance now and then,” Shaw was saying. “Charles is the most competent deputy any headmaster could ask for, Erik, and he’s been doing this for years. Don’t hesitate to go to him for anything you need, should I be unavailable…” He trailed off, as if finally noticing something odd in the way his Potions and Divinations masters were staring at each other.
