Learn how to use Transkribus, ChatGPT and other AI tools to translate German church records, and other records, into English. Learn about cautions and practical uses.
Geoffrey D. Rasmussen is the father of four budding genealogists. He graduated with a degree in Genealogy and Family History from Brigham Young University and has served as director and vice-president of the Utah Genealogical Association. He is th
Andrea Bentschneider, based in Hamburg, Germany, is renowned for her expertise and contributions to the field of genealogy. Since establishing “Beyond History” in 2004, she has emerged as Germany’s foremost expert in genealogical
Transkribus will definitely help with my tougher records, those with less typical wordings. Thanks! In years past, I fed Tranlate output back as input in the other direction. Where it fails shows the areas where “nuance lossage” and “language aging” that Andrea mentioned, and also idioms, translational inexactitudes, and more are a problem. Feeding it backward allows you some freedom in carefully tweeking or massaging the inputs/outputs. Nice presentation.
I have been using Transkribus to translate personal letters in German for a few weeks now, and I found very quickly that the results were much better if I paid to use the Super Model. I use Deepl to translate and the results are better if you edit the transcription so it doesn’t treat each line separately. It’s not perfect but the human alternative is not affordable and so it’s much better than never finding out what is in those letters.
When I finish this project I will transcribe my grandmother’s letters to my mother, another of those tasks I thought I’d never have time for.
Fascinating Geoff. AI is developing so quickly that I am rarely surprised by what it can do now… but quite honestly, I did not expect this!
I have a few Latin documents that I have attempted to translate but have not gotten very far. I think I’ll try your suggestion and see where it takes me. Thank you.
I found this webinar fascinating and halfway through the proverbial light went on! I have a trove of about 20 letters sent to my great-grandfather that I have been “meaning to translate” for over 40 years. They are written in German script which is getting harder and harder for me to decipher over the years. I grabbed a four-page sample written (I suspected) by his sister in 1898. It took a bit to get it through Transkribus but I succeeded on my fourth try. Then I sent the output to ChatGPT and, oula, there was the letter in English from a neighbor of Louis’s sister who was very ill. Thank you so much for this webinar.
Many people who translate on a regular basis believe that DeepL does a better job of translating that Google Translate, particularly if it’s a longer document.
AI and Genealogy: Using AI to Get Genealogy Research Help
While artificial intelligence won’t help you find specific records for genealogical research, AI can summarize the record sets you should consult for your search. Learn how to construct effective prompts and queries to return the best information on a record set.
While artificial intelligence won’t help you find specific records for genealogical research, AI can summarize the record sets you should consult for your search. Learn how to construct effective prompts and queries to return the best information on a record set.
AI and Genealogy: Using AI to Summarize Genealogy Records
Artificial intelligence can assist in constructing a summary of a document or genealogy record. AI can generate summary text in various formats that you can then add to your research.
Artificial intelligence can assist in constructing a summary of a document or genealogy record. AI can generate summary text in various formats that you can then add to your research.
While you won’t be able to find genealogy-related records using artificial intelligence, you will be able to use AI to learn more about an ancestor’s “social history.” Social history details how an ancestor lived including where they lived, their occupation, the cost of goods and services, and why they may have migrated to or from a location. Social history “fills in the dash” between an ancestor’s birth date and death date.
While you won’t be able to find genealogy-related records using artificial intelligence, you will be able to use AI to learn more about an ancestor’s “social history.” Social history details how an ancestor lived including where they lived, their occupation, the cost of goods and services, and why they may have migrated to or from a location. Social history “fills in the dash” between an ancestor’s birth date and death date.
AI and Genealogy: Using AI to Translate Genealogy Records
While artificial intelligence can effectively translate genealogy documents and records from one language to another, learn how to construct effective prompts, and the pitfalls of using AI for translation.
While artificial intelligence can effectively translate genealogy documents and records from one language to another, learn how to construct effective prompts, and the pitfalls of using AI for translation.
AI and Genealogy: Using AI to Transcribe Genealogy Records
Artificial intelligence is an amazing resource to help transcribe genealogy documents and records, even those with handwriting! Learn which digital file formats and prompts work best for the best results.
Artificial intelligence is an amazing resource to help transcribe genealogy documents and records, even those with handwriting! Learn which digital file formats and prompts work best for the best results.
Using Artificial Intelligence Tools to Expand Your Genealogical Research Universe
In the past few years, there has been an explosion of new AI tools. See how these exciting tools can be used to expand your genealogical research efforts. The three classes will cover different types of AI and then focus on AI-based chat tools, research tools, and generative imaging tools. The impact that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is having and will have on genealogical research will be revolutionary. Don't miss this chance to explore the exciting possibilities that artificial intelligence offers to genealogical research.
In the past few years, there has been an explosion of new AI tools. See how these exciting tools can be used to expand your genealogical research efforts. The three classes will cover different types of AI and then focus on AI-based chat tools, research tools, and generative imaging tools. The impact that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is having and will have on genealogical research will be revolutionary. Don't miss this chance to explore the exciting possibilities that artificial intelligence offers to genealogical research.
10 Ways AI Can Help You Find Your Elusive Ancestors
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already helping to shape the future of genealogy. Learn how current and developing technology can help you find your elusive ancestors and share their stories.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already helping to shape the future of genealogy. Learn how current and developing technology can help you find your elusive ancestors and share their stories.
Moving, moving, moving! Migration Patterns within Germany
Despite their reputation for being rooted to their localities, Germans do have a history of migration within their own country, especially after the onset of industrialization in the mid-19th century. In this presentation, we will explore the various patterns of internal migration, and offer guidance on how to navigate these movements to aid in your search for ancestors.
Despite their reputation for being rooted to their localities, Germans do have a history of migration within their own country, especially after the onset of industrialization in the mid-19th century. In this presentation, we will explore the various patterns of internal migration, and offer guidance on how to navigate these movements to aid in your search for ancestors.
Due to the constantly growing offer of online accessible sources for German genealogical research, an important cornerstone of the actual research is more and more disregarded: the classical research in an archive. A good preparation facilitates the archive visit immensely and makes the search in the historical documents an experience that will never replace a research on the screen. Particularly if you intend to add “meat to the bones” and find more valuable information about your ancestors besides dates and places of birth, marriage and/or death. There are many individual records in German archives and it would be a shame never to look at these wonderful documents. A visit to a German archive can be rather intimidating. Besides language barriers, the archival structures are initially often difficult to understand. But help is near! This presentation will cover professional tips & tricks for research in a German Archive – from preparation over execution to follow-up, if applicable. If you are unfamiliar with a specific archive, it is already difficult as a German to make the most of an archival research visit. Particularly as archives do not offer to conduct complex research projects on your behalf, you have to be prepared to do it yourself.
Due to the constantly growing offer of online accessible sources for German genealogical research, an important cornerstone of the actual research is more and more disregarded: the classical research in an archive. A good preparation facilitates the archive visit immensely and makes the search in the historical documents an experience that will never replace a research on the screen. Particularly if you intend to add “meat to the bones” and find more valuable information about your ancestors besides dates and places of birth, marriage and/or death. There are many individual records in German archives and it would be a shame never to look at these wonderful documents. A visit to a German archive can be rather intimidating. Besides language barriers, the archival structures are initially often difficult to understand. But help is near! This presentation will cover professional tips & tricks for research in a German Archive – from preparation over execution to follow-up, if applicable. If you are unfamiliar with a specific archive, it is already difficult as a German to make the most of an archival research visit. Particularly as archives do not offer to conduct complex research projects on your behalf, you have to be prepared to do it yourself.
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Transkribus will definitely help with my tougher records, those with less typical wordings. Thanks! In years past, I fed Tranlate output back as input in the other direction. Where it fails shows the areas where “nuance lossage” and “language aging” that Andrea mentioned, and also idioms, translational inexactitudes, and more are a problem. Feeding it backward allows you some freedom in carefully tweeking or massaging the inputs/outputs. Nice presentation.
I’ve used Transkribus and then DeepL. It is still amazing!
I wonder how Claude.ai would handle the transcript? It’s a game changer for English documents, so it would be interesting to see for German.
I have been using Transkribus to translate personal letters in German for a few weeks now, and I found very quickly that the results were much better if I paid to use the Super Model. I use Deepl to translate and the results are better if you edit the transcription so it doesn’t treat each line separately. It’s not perfect but the human alternative is not affordable and so it’s much better than never finding out what is in those letters.
When I finish this project I will transcribe my grandmother’s letters to my mother, another of those tasks I thought I’d never have time for.
Fascinating Geoff. AI is developing so quickly that I am rarely surprised by what it can do now… but quite honestly, I did not expect this!
I have a few Latin documents that I have attempted to translate but have not gotten very far. I think I’ll try your suggestion and see where it takes me. Thank you.
Did you also obtain the emigration papers for Catharina Kienz, Archiv B731/1 Nr. 902
http://www.landesarchiv-bw.de/plink/?f=5-2237644
Not yet, but she’s on my list. 🙂
I found this webinar fascinating and halfway through the proverbial light went on! I have a trove of about 20 letters sent to my great-grandfather that I have been “meaning to translate” for over 40 years. They are written in German script which is getting harder and harder for me to decipher over the years. I grabbed a four-page sample written (I suspected) by his sister in 1898. It took a bit to get it through Transkribus but I succeeded on my fourth try. Then I sent the output to ChatGPT and, oula, there was the letter in English from a neighbor of Louis’s sister who was very ill. Thank you so much for this webinar.
Wow, how wonderful!!
Many people who translate on a regular basis believe that DeepL does a better job of translating that Google Translate, particularly if it’s a longer document.