Finnish Thomas has unexpected powers

[ellenkushner]

TranslateGoogle is a beautiful thing. Here is their version of a Finnish review of Thomas the Rhymer (Thomas Riiminiekka):

"Kushner language is successful transformation of the various persons blowjob, which is not a minor achievement ... "

Comments

[dremiel.livejournal.com]

You want it to say it's a major achievement?

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

(I just edited out "Want to propose a better translation?" because it's funnier without it - but I appreciate your comment!

[dramaturgca.livejournal.com]

I think I missed the blowjobs in that one...

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Well, you know how it is; if you blink, you miss it. . . .

[dramaturgca.livejournal.com]

Or maybe that's the point of the review? The blowjobs were transformed into... something else? What was in there that was actually a blowjob, cunningly transformed?

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

What was in there that was actually a blowjob, cunningly transformed?

I *so* read that sentence wrong...

*blushes*

[gerriwritinglog.livejournal.com]

No, I doubt that you did. LOL

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

Then it's a hell of a transformation!!!

*G*

[woodburner.livejournal.com]

But the real question is, what did the blowjob transform into?

[shanejayell.livejournal.com]

LOL

^__^

[epithalamium]

Who would have thought blowjobs from different people can be transformed by a cunning use of words?

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

Not just a Rhymer, but a hummer?

[csinman.livejournal.com]

You almost ruined my keyboard, sir, for my mouth was full of chocolate milk and at the moment I read your comment, it suddenly was not.

[tithenai.livejournal.com]

*giggleFIT!*

Awesome.

[elissa-carey.livejournal.com]

*snort* Oh, that is great. I wonder whom we have to thank for "blowjob" even being in their database.

[maevele.livejournal.com]

my icon that references blowjobs seems to only be on my dw.

butnow i have to re-read that bookto see where the transformed blowjobs are.

[droolfangrrl.livejournal.com]

Ooops, I cracked up loud enough to scare the heck out of my guinea pig.

[(Anonymous)]

Hope I'm not ruining everybody's fun by offering an explanation. :-)

In Finnish the same word, "kieli", means both "tongue" and "language". The original text has a somewhat hazy metaphor - Ellen's language transforms well into other person's mouths - meaning well-written different voices for the four different narrators.

But for the life of me I cannot understand how Google turned that into a blowjob and not French kissing!

Johanna Vainikainen-Uusitalo

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

You have an excellent point.

And now I want to know what "French kissing" is in Finnish, if translated literally back into English. Are we the only ones who blame the French, or is it universal?

[(Anonymous)]

Ah... We're quite literal there: it's just "tonguekissing". It's a pretty word in Finnish, I think : kielisuudelma (a French kiss). Sounds like quenya :-)

[(Anonymous)]

And that was me :-)

Johanna Vainikainen-Uusitalo

[jophan.livejournal.com]

You realize you have to rewrite it now for a second edition that is in sync with the review?

On the funny translation

[(Anonymous)]

Heehee, that review is actually mine. What I said is that Kushner uses different language for different persons, which is not a minor achievement. But yes, maybe you could translate it like that. :)

Re: On the funny translation

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Thank you for setting us straight!

Re: On the funny translation

[elswhere1.livejournal.com]

...which Google would probably translate as "Gratitude for putting us in groups heterosexual."

[beth-bernobich.livejournal.com]

*snort*

[stakebait.livejournal.com]

Hey, the various persons blowjob is NOT a minor achievement. Most of us have to stick to one at a time. :)

Wow.

[(Anonymous)]

So maybe my husband (Microsoft employee) is correct when he says that Google programmers are not all that ...

Nancy W.

[dryfoo.livejournal.com]

I am soooo reading that book again. More carefully this time, I guess.

[rojomojo.livejournal.com]

who knew? a language bj.

damn.

and all this time I thought reading was for the imagination.

rojo