Translation Tools

Using the James Legge translation as a sanity check, I brought the translation tools described in a previous post and depicted here to bear on the source materials referenced in Profound Accordance.  I may in the future add some or all of my original translation notes.  At some point I started working with copies of the originals to avoid excessive clutter, so some of the later translation passes won’t be fully represented on the original pages.

PDA-8899 translation device showing opening screen
PDA-8899 translation device showing opening screen

PDA-8899 with a Taiwan 10-yen piece added for scale
PDA-8899 with a Taiwan 10-yen piece added for scale

PDA-8899 showing case degradation and integrated stylus
PDA-8899 showing case degradation and integrated stylus

The astute observer will notice degradation of the PDA-8899’s plastic casing.  Indeed, the plastic used for the casing (but not yet that used for the screen or keys) has begun to literally dissolve away over time and has become sticky and slimy to the touch.  Provided with fresh batteries, however, the unit continues to function perfectly as far as I can tell.


PDA-8899 bottom view
PDA-8899 bottom view

PDA-8899 bottom view detail showing FCC compliance notice
PDA-8899 bottom view detail showing FCC compliance notice

PDA-8899 bottom view detail showing manufacturer's placard
PDA-8899 bottom view detail showing manufacturer’s placard

PDA-8899 bottom view detail showing connector and control labels
PDA-8899 bottom view detail showing connector and control labels

PDA-8899 bottom view detail showing memory card slot
PDA-8899 bottom view detail showing memory card slot

PDA-8899 screen detail showing top-level menu
PDA-8899 screen detail showing top-level menu

PDA-8899 overhead view showing keyboard layout
PDA-8899 overhead view showing keyboard layout

PDA-8899 screen detail showing the F1 menu
PDA-8899 screen detail showing the F1 menu

PDA-8899 screen detail showing an English entry screen
PDA-8899 screen detail showing an English entry screen

PDA-8899 screen detail showing a Chinese entry screen
PDA-8899 screen detail showing a Chinese entry screen

PDA-8899 screen detail during Chinese text entry
PDA-8899 screen detail during Chinese text entry

Here at the link is a short video clip of a sample translation to demonstrate the basic operation when used for Chinese to English translation. One must take a brief tutorial to learn in general terms the manner and stroke order in which to write Chinese characters so that the device can more readily recognize them.

https://ProfAccord.WayOfAges.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/20170729_PA_Trans_Kit_16.mov

Accessory snap on Day-Timer used to carry the translation kit
Accessory snap on Day-Timer used to carry the translation kit

Bottom view of Day-Timer used to carry the translation kit
Bottom view of Day-Timer used to carry the translation kit

Top view of Day-Timer used to carry the translation kit
Top view of Day-Timer used to carry the translation kit

Top view of Day-Timer used to carry the translation kit
Top view of Day-Timer used to carry the translation kit

Utility insert showing PDA-8899 and memory card accessory pockets
Utility insert showing PDA-8899 and memory card accessory pockets

Reading & Writing Chinese by William McNaughton
Reading & Writing Chinese by William McNaughton

One should look up a character in the paper dictionary before translating it using the device shown above to ensure that you’ve chosen the correct character.


A bound copy of the translation notes. Back in the day, the working notes these were copied from would have occupied the main Day-Timer pocket instead.
A bound copy of the translation notes. Back in the day, the working notes these were copied from would have occupied the main Day-Timer pocket instead.

A glimpse of my translation notes, in total covering 492 numbered sides (on mostly double-sided pages) plus 3 pages of supplementary notes.  More notes were added to the same pages in the second pass through the source material.  Each set of notes were dated in the margins on each pass.
A glimpse of my translation notes, in total covering 492 numbered sides (on mostly double-sided pages) plus 3 pages of supplementary notes.  More notes were added to the same pages in the second pass through the source material.  Each set of notes were dated in the margins on each pass.

The translation kit with everything in its place. The PDA-8899 is inside the bottom pocket of the utility insert.
The translation kit with everything in its place. The PDA-8899 is inside the bottom pocket of the utility insert.
th3Pranc1ngP0ny
http://WayOfAges.org

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