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Greeks devise software to do away with online ‘Greeklish’

A Greek institute has devised software to turn the ‘Greeklish’ Latin text transliteration commonly used by Greek Internet users, to the despair of purists, back into the native alphabet.

“This software is particularly useful for members of the Greek diaspora living abroad,” a representative of the Institute for Language and Speech Processing (ILSP) told AFP. “There were negative reactions from people who say our software promotes the use of Greeklish, but we’ve received many emails of praise,” she said.

There is growing concern in Greece that widespread use of Latin text in cellphone and email messages is undermining knowledge of the Greek language, particularly among youths who make up the country’s most Web-literate group.

Thousands of Greek Internet users currently switch to Greeklish on blogs and in emails instead of writing in their native alphabet, and even if a user wants to write in Greek, the proper fonts often have to be downloaded.

The designers of the “All Greek to me” software say it actually encourages use of the Greek language, helps with spelling and is invaluable to users who do not have access to a Greek keyboard. An online free demo of the “All Greek to me” software is available on http://speech.ilsp.gr/greeklish/greeklishdemo.asp.

ILSP was founded in 1991 to promote the growth of language technology in Greece. It currently develops CD-ROMs for computer-assisted Greek language learning, translation tools and electronic dictionaries.

The Greek diaspora numbers over 5.5 million people, mostly in the United States, Australia, Germany and Britain, while thousands of Greek students are currently enrolled in universities in Europe and the US.

The following text, is written in “Greeklish”, the word is deriving from “Greek” and “English” > “Gia sou apo tin Ellada. Sou stelno tis thermes mou efches apo tin patrida”, which if translated into English or Greek should mean the following “Hello from Greece. I am sending you my warm wishes from our home-country”.

Easy and funny, eh?

iPhone now speaks foreign languages > Apple iPhone can translate with lastminute.com application

The Apple iPhone can now translate phrases and speak in several foreign languages, thanks to a new talking translator application from lastminute.com.

The lastminute.com Talking iPhone Translator is a free service providing travellers with text and audio translations from French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and German, with a Greek translation version to follow shortly. Users can select a phrase and the application will display a written translation as well as provide a spoken translation recorded by a native speaker. Users can choose to let the iPhone do the talking for them, or use the correct pronunciation to help them communicate with locals.

Lastminute.com released a series of six Talking Mobile Phone Phrase Books for Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones in May this year, and now software developer Coolgorilla has created an iPhone version combining these into an all-in-one application. IPhone users can download the application directly now for free from Coolgorilla.com.

Related Links >
http://www.apple.com/iphone

http://www.lastminute.com

http://www.coolgorilla.com

Enan baklava parakalo
One baklava please

Tha ithela enan baklava parakalo
I would like a baklava please

Thelo enan baklava parakalo
I want a baklava please

Mboro na eho ena kommati baklava parakalo?
Can I have a piece of baklava please?

Other neuter desserts, foods and drinks > when ordering these neuter nouns, you replace the “to”, the, with “ena”, a or one.

To galaktoboureko - the Greek custard
To kateifi - shredded wheat and nuts
To profiterol - profiterole
To keik - the cake
To pagoto - the ice-cream
To santouits - the sandwhich
To krouasan - the croissant
To souvlaki - Greek-meat skewer
To ochtapodi - the octopus
To halloumi - Greek Cypriot - goat cheese
To yiaourti - the yogurt
To tzatziki - Greek yogurt dip
To ouzo - the ouzo
To krasi - the wine
To kokkino krasi - the red wine
To aspro/lefko krasi - the white wine
To anapsihtiko - the soft drink
To nero - the water
To koniak - the brandy

To order female desserts, food and drinks > when ordering female nouns you replace “E” with “mia”

E bougatsa - Greek custard slice
E melopita - apple pie
E spanakopita - spinach pie
E karithopita - walnut pie/cake
E tarta - tart
E pasta - tart with fresh cream and fruit
E salata - salad
E tiropita - Cheesepie
E eliopita - olive pie
E feta - feta cheese
E mbira - the beer
E sokolata - the chocolate

Some masculine nouns > when asking for a male noun, the “O” changes to “ena”

O baklavas - the baklava
O kafes - the coffee
O himos - the juice

Poso kanei? or Poso kostizi? or Poso stihizi?
How much does it cost?

Poso ine?
How much is it?

Ton logariasmo parakalo
The bill please

The numbers >
1= ena
2= dio
3= tria
4= tessera
5= pente
6= exi
7= efta or epta
8= okto
9= ennea or ennia
10= deka

Ordering a coffee in a Greek cafe

Ti tha parete? or Ti thelete?
What will you take/have? - This is plural, and is what a waiter would ask.

Ti tha paris? or Ti thelis?
What will you take/have? - This is singular, and is what a friend would ask.

Ena sketo, parakalo
A/one sugar free Greek coffee, please

Mboro na eho ena sketo parakalo?
Can I have a sugar free Greek coffee, please?

Tha ithela ena sketo parakalo
I would like a sugar free Greek coffee, please

Ena frapee parakalo
One frappe please

Ena nescafee parakalo
One instant coffee please

Ena espresso parakalo
One espresso please

Ena kapoutsino parakalo
One cappucino please

Tha ithela ena frappe me gala kai zahari, parakalo
I would like a frappe with milk and sugar, please

Tha ithela ena frappe me gala horis zahari, parakalo
I would like a frappe with milk without sugar, please

Coeus International School and the Education Office of the Embassy of Greece form partnership

Dr. J. Daniel Hollinger, Founder and Head of Coeus International School (CIS), and Dr. Zoe Kavogli, Counselor of Education at the Embassy of Greece, are proud to announce the formation of a new Greek Language Immersion Programme.

A new Greek Language Immersion Programme for kindergarten through twelfth grade at CIS. In addition, CIS will serve as a Center for Greek Language and Culture for the Washington metropolitan area.

Located at 4401 Connecticut Avenue, NW in Washington, DC, CIS is an economically, culturally, racially and linguistically diverse school community. CIS’s dual-language, international curriculum develops fluency in two or more languges and prepares students for global citizenship. Beginning in 2007, Coeus students will be able to choose from five dual-language immersion programs in English and Arabic, French, Greek, Mandarin or Spanish. 

Related Links > http://www.coeusis.org

Software developer CoolGorilla has unveiled an application that can turn a mobile phone into a translation device.

The software is available in French, Spanish, German, Greek, Italian and Portuguese, and has a collection of commonly used words and phrases. After entering an English word the phone will display the translated text and use the device’s speaker to utter the phrase.

The software can be downloaded directly to the handset at a cost of £3 per language. It is being sold by Lastminute.com or direct from the developer at Coolgorilla.com or Coolgorilla.mobi. 

More languages are expected later in the year, including cross translators that could translate French into Italian, for example.

Related Links > http://www.coolgorilla.com

http://www.coolgorilla.mobi

http://www.lastminute.com

Source > VNUNet.com

Single-click translation and dictionary software, Babylon 6, is offered with bi-directional Greek English dictionary. With it, users can click on any term from any desktop application and receive immediate results to and from Greek in pop-up window on their screen. Dictionary contains 110,000+ words, phrases, abbreviations, and acronyms pertaining to variety of subjects. For localization, dictionary also features American and British forms of spelling.

Millions of Babylon users around the globe will now be able to click on any term from any desktop application and receive immediate results to and from Greek in a small pop-up window on their screen.

The Babylon’s Greek-English bi-directional comprehensive Dictionary contains more than 110,000 words, phrases, abbreviations & acronyms. It includes terms from a vast variety of subjects, such as Medicine, Electronics, Zoology, Business, Computers, Religion, etc., and features both the American and British forms of spelling.

For download Babylon translation software please visit Babylon’s web site: http://www.babylon.com

If you already have Babylon, click here to download the Greek dictionary:
http://www.babylon.com/category/10/Greek.html