googletranslate.lua

require("json");
require("socket.http")
require("socket.url")

function babelfish(lang, query)
    lang  = lang  or "en"
    query = query or ""

    if lang == "en" or query == "" then
        return query
    end

    local result, status = socket.http.request(
        "http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/services/language/translate?v=1.0&q="
        .. socket.url.escape(query)
        .. "&langpair=en|"
        .. lang
    )
    if not (status == 200 or status == 201) then
        return "api error: " .. status
    end

    local data = json.decode(result)
    if data.responseStatus == 200 then
        return data.responseData.translatedText
    else
        return "status " .. data.responseStatus .. ": " .. data.responseDetails
    end
end

local text = babelfish(arg[1], arg[2])
print(text)