Babble Fish

지연아  잘있어?

A few problems with exchanging emails with your parents is 1) you can't write Korean and 2) they can't write English. This is where internet translating tools kick in. I've written about this before but I think the technology is actually getting worse.

My mother wrote me an email today. Babel Fish spit this masterpiece out:

Oh there is delay well???? Sees. Now works, is not busy? 

There is a mom dad well and also the possibility cup is putting out is not small. This Friday possibility you who when go to the house which sleeps does and talk over the phone with com [phwu] other, The which will do does. 

The mom does, frequently liaison flaw. 

Loves…. Mom 

Wha-hozzat?!? I mean, I suppose there's always the possibility that my mother is drunk while she's writing. Anyways, I thought I'd try out Google's Translator and got this version:

Jiyeonah Bye??? 

I want to see. Ilhaneunra're busy these days? Mom, Dad, brother of Susan jalitgo can pay.Susan, you go home with you next Friday keomputaro currency haneungeot 

We will want. 

Let your mom and frequent contact. I love you mom .... 

Hmmm. A little better but the last time I checked, my brother's name was Jason. However, it's been a while since I've been back home and things change. *shrug* Eventually, I went back to the source and painfully sounded out each word (yes, my lips move).

Cindy, 

Have you been well? I miss you. Has work been busy? 

Your father and I are doing well, as is Susan. I'll be at her place tomorrow night if you want to talk over the computer before I go to sleep.

Keep in touch! 

Love, Mom.

In response, I wrote back a fairly lengthy response, making sure to throw in some weird, off tangent stuff (ie flatulence and men with big noses) in English BEFORE running it through the translation program. I'm sure the result will keep her busy for a while.