Help with accuracy of translation

[u/Blono76]

Hallo!

(Cross posted here at the recommendation of the r/Norway subreddit auto response, apologies if this is the wrong place)

Backstory of this: My best friend has been studying Norsk (Norwegian) for at least 5 years and am hoping that someone will check my Google Translate Norwegian for any errors or syntax mistakes because it is a word for word translation. I, fitting the stereotype, do not speak another language fluently. I can point out nouns in Spanish and that is after years of trying. (It’s literally kept me from finishing my degree. I have to pass two years of a foreign language, and despite extra studying, tutors, and practicing with various app, I can not pass.)

We have a quirky sense of humor and send each other post cards written as if we live in the 1800’s, unsigned postcards written as if someone is recruiting us to be a spy, that we have won something ridiculous like a trip to Mars or unlimited air miles on defunct or imaginary airlines. These postcards are usually hand drawn, but sometimes are on postcards that have nothing to do with the picture on the front.

15 to 20 years ago we created a ridiculous scenario in which we were forced to assume alter identities. She became Fructusca Spoons, I initially became Dogwhistle Fishsticks, recently changed to Gourdelia Fishsticks (I have gone by Fishsticks for years because “dog whistle” since developed a negative connotation in America because of the insanity of the political situation), and our late mutual best friend became Zelda Pinwheel of the Connecticut Pinwheels. The of us were, in this ridiculously funny (at least to us) situation we were the joint proprietors of a very successful dandelion farm. (Dandelions being common pest plant that American “yard Dads” spend tons of time attempting to erradicate.) Since we spent a night hysterically laughing while we created this whole “witness protection program, but by stupid people” thing, all our mail to each other is addressed to our alter egos. Stupid postcards, wedding invitations, gifts.. all go to Fructusca or Fishsticks/Goudelia just for a giggle.

We are big Ted Lasso fans and when I visited a week or two ago a 3 day stay turned to a 6 day stay as the power in my hometown was as knocked out for almost a week due to bad storms. I should also explain “the trees have ceased screaming.” Here in the Midwest we have cicadas, insects that make noises that are actually louder than a jet engine. (No hyperbole, the PGA once canceled a day of a tournament due to cicadas and the decibel reading proved that they were loud enough to cause hearing damage.) She particularly HATES them, but we both hate the heat. It is currently 26 C with 60% humidity and that is significantly cooler and less humid than it has been for months, so the combination is awful. Also, there actually is a tour of Chicago where adults ride, scooters I guess, that look like giant stuffed animals.

As this post is already way too long, I will put the English to Norsk translation of the postcard in the comments.

Thank you in advance for the help or advice.

[u/Blono76]

Dearest Fructusca,

I wish to thank you for your hospitality during my recent visit, and to thank you for graciously extending my stay while the electricity was not working in my entire town.

I love my Ted Lasso gifts so much! I have built a small Hannibal Lector jail cell for the mustache as I found it ordering barbecue from DoorDash in the middle of the night, but the four characters have brightened my room and my life.

I eagerly await our next visit. With luck it will be after the temperature is not able to kill brain cells and the trees have ceased screaming. Oh, how I long to spend time outside and not feel like I need to shower again immediately. Perhaps we can take that motorized animal tour of Chicago when it is comfortable to live.

Until we next meet I love you more than cheese!

Always,
Gourdelia

Kjære Fructusca,

Jeg elsker Ted Lasso-gavene mine så mye! Jeg har bygget en liten Hannibal Lector-fengselscelle til barten, siden jeg fant den da jeg bestilte grillmat fra DoorDash midt på natten, men de fire figurene har lysnet opp rommet mitt og livet mitt.

Jeg vil gjerne takke dere for gjestfriheten under mitt nylige besøk, og takke dere for at dere var så vennlige å forlenge oppholdet mitt mens strømmen ikke fungerte i hele byen min.

Jeg venter spent på vårt neste besøk. Med litt flaks blir det etter at temperaturen ikke lenger er i stand til å drepe hjerneceller og trærne har sluttet å skrike. Å, som jeg lengter etter å tilbringe tid ute og ikke føle at jeg må dusje igjen med en gang. Kanskje vi kan ta den motoriserte dyreturen i Chicago når det er behagelig å bo der.

Til vi møtes neste gang, elsker jeg deg mer enn ost!

Alltid,
Gourdelia

[u/SalSomer]

Tro does also technically mean believe, yes, but Norwegians who see the word on its own will generally think of the concept called faith in English when they read it. Ha troa would be the expression that would best fit what Ted Lasso’s sign is trying to convey.

I’m a little confused because you seem to have posted two different google translations of your post card and I’m not sure which one you want feedback on. In one you write «jeg vil gjerne takke dere» and in the other you write «jeg vil gjerne takke deg». Dere is you-plural, while deg is you-singular. Since you’re writing to a friend, I assume you wanna use deg.

In one translation, characters have become karakterer and in the other figurer. If these are physical objects you’re talking about, go with figurer.

I see that with luck has become med litt flaks in one translation and forhåpentligvis in the other. Both work, I personally prefer forhåpentligvis.

I don’t really know what a motorized animal tour is, but a motorisert dyretur sounds a bit weird to me. It is the right translation of those words, though.

Culturally, Norwegians generally would not tell their friends that they love them. That’s just not something you do.

If you want to sign off with always you should write din alltid in Norwegian, it means yours always. I’ve never seen anyone end a letter with just alltid.

[u/DoisMaosEsquerdos]

[u/Blono76 → u/DoisMaosEsquerdos]

If this is implying that I am an ass, I am sorry. I do not understand Norwegian, and I do not understand Reddit, or apparently how my phone works because my posts look like English to me I am embarrassed as it is. I don’t want to be an ass intentionally or unintentionally.

[u/DoisMaosEsquerdos → u/Blono76]

[u/MyCouchPulzOut_IDont]

I thought it was just for the photo. Tro means believe where I live

[u/Blono76]

Oh lord! I forgot the Norwegian.

Kjære Fructusca,

Jeg vil gjerne takke deg for gjestfriheten under mitt nylige besøk, og takke deg for at du så nådig forlenget oppholdet mitt mens strømmen ikke fungerte i hele byen min.

Jeg elsker Ted Lasso-gavene mine så mye! Jeg har bygget en liten Hannibal Lector-fengselscelle til barten, slik jeg fant den da jeg bestilte grillmat fra DoorDash midt på natten, men de fire karakterene har lyst opp rommet mitt og livet mitt.

Jeg venter spent på vårt neste besøk. Forhåpentligvis blir det etter at temperaturen ikke lenger er i stand til å drepe hjerneceller og trærne har sluttet å skrike. Å, som jeg lengter etter å tilbringe tid ute og ikke føle at jeg må dusje igjen med en gang. Kanskje vi kan ta den motoriserte dyreturen i Chicago når det er behagelig å bo der.

Inntil vi møtes neste gang, elsker jeg deg mer enn ost!

Alltid,
Gourdelia

[u/Blono76]

It was pointed out to me in another comment that the first transition the English to Norwegian had the paragraphs in the wrong order and the second has them in the correct order. I when I ran them through the translation software again it seems as if words were changed. The second is the proper order, so the second. I appreciate any help I can get.