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Translation software recommendation for offline use?

I am aware that websites can be translated from many languages into English thanks to Google Translate. If I receive documentation via email that is in a language other than English, how straight forward is it to translate into English on my PC or Apple Mac? (indeed is Google Translate involved or is it strictly for websites)

Similarly if I receive documentation via the normal postal mail service (termed "snail mail" if I'm correct) which needs to be translated into English, what steps need to be taken for this documentation to be translated effectively & quickly on my PC or Apple Mac (I am aware of the term Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software, and is this costly, or do free alternatives exist to carry out the translation process solely online? ).

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Simon
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  • @techie007: Is the process of translation achieved offline ? – Simon Dec 09 '12 at 15:56
  • There must be people carrying out this procedure on a weekly if not daily basis ? – Simon Dec 09 '12 at 16:02
  • @techie007: The post entitled Translation software recommendation for offline use? doesnt seem to answer my question ? – Simon Dec 09 '12 at 16:05
  • If you're not looking for an off-line translator, the what exactly IS your question? What exactly are you trying to accomplish? What have you tried already? Where are you getting stuck? "How straight forward is it to translate" isn't really answerable as it depends on things like what software you're using, what you're trying to translate, etc. – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 Dec 09 '12 at 16:08
  • If I receive for example a word doc in french via email. How do I translate it? If i received for example a report in anothr language via the postal mail service how would i translate it? I am not looking for the names of software, but the process of carying out the translation – Simon Dec 09 '12 at 16:15
  • You'd run the document through translation software or a service (like Google Translate). _How_ would depend entirely on the chosen software. – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 Dec 09 '12 at 16:16
  • Right.... well, i have never done it before thats why I am asking? – Simon Dec 09 '12 at 16:17
  • As far as i was aware Google translate was solely for websites? – Simon Dec 09 '12 at 16:18
  • I didnt mention offline translation anywhere in the question - all i want to know is if i receive documentation via email or thru the postal service in a language other than english - how do i translate it ? There must be people carrying out this type of translation whether in english or whatever is their native language all the time. – Simon Dec 09 '12 at 16:21
  • If you are using Gmail or Google Docs (etc.) then Google translate is available directly within those products. Perhaps check out [Good translation (manually) software](http://superuser.com/questions/119289/good-translation-manually-software?rq=1), [Language translation tool](http://superuser.com/questions/201394/language-translation-tool?rq=1), etc. As it stands I think your question may be just too vague for here. – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 Dec 09 '12 at 16:44
  • @techie007: Thankyou v.much for the recommendations..i'll take a look. GDocs wouldnt have been my first port of call to open a doc received by email but i'll investigate further ? Still confused about what to do with docs received by normal mail ? – Simon Dec 09 '12 at 16:48
  • Again it depends on the chosen solution and how it may (or may not) integrate with your specific email program.. :) – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 Dec 09 '12 at 16:49
  • @techie 007: Oh i see. Where can i get further info on that ? Its something i've never done - thats why i asked - you seem to know alot – Simon Dec 09 '12 at 16:51

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1 - Although it can be installed as a widget on a website, Google Translate is not necessarily a tool meant for websites. Indeed, if you visit the Google Translate website, you will see two text boxes. On the leftmost you either type or paste previously copied text and it will automatically, on-the-fly, translate the text for you (you need to specify the languages of both source and destination by clicking on the appropriate option).

2 - In order to perform machine-based translation (that is, to have your computer -- Apple, PC or whatever -- to translate something for you), it is mandatory that the text is in digital format, represented as text (that is, taking a picture or scanning it won't count). The only possible ways to have a text going "into" your computer are by either typing it (here's your free alternative, unless you pay someone to type it for you), or else you can use OCR software to perform OCR on scanned images of the text.

Other possible option is to have someone send the text for you by eletronic means (email, chat, whatever), then you just copy (CTRL-C) the text, open your offline translation program (or user Google Translate online) and paste the text onto the software.

2b - It doesn't matter if the translation process happens online (that is, your computer is connected to the internet, the translation happens on a website such as Google Translate and is sent back to your computer), or offline (that is, your computer is or isn't connected to the internet, doesn't matter, and you have some translation software such as Babylon installed) -- In both cases, the previous statements remain true.

That Brazilian Guy
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  • Thankyou so much for taking the time to explain the process - which is what I wanted. I never asked for a list of Software recommendations (so it is not a duplicated question), I wanted to know how to do the translation. I'm sure there are many other people on here who could have also explained - but were not really bothered. Once again thankyou – Simon Dec 09 '12 at 19:30