Google Translate

MotorBear

MSE asked in an email"what do ytou think of Google Translate? I've used it for years, it is fantastic. Your phone will speak to the person for you in their own language or you can just read it to them.
It's also great for whatsapp conversation.
Get whatsapp and Google translate on your PC or laptop.
print what you want to say, convert it to French, Spanish, Germam, Chinese, whatever.
Copy the translation, paste it into whatsapp, send it.
Get the reply in whatsapp, copy, paste into Translate, there's your English....so you can have a rolling conversation, no problem!

Voyager2002

I find it to be pretty good but not good enough...

The classic was when we were using it for trade negotiations with the Chinese... we needed to demonstrate that our standards for food safety, regulations on permitted additives and so forth, were at least as good as the Chinese regulations so that they could allow British food to be sold there without putting their population at risk. A lot of the material to be translated was highly technical, but Google translate was all that we had. Some of the time they seemed happy with the text we showed them, but at times they collapsed in helpless laughter! Since the peoples of the Far East are famous for their ability not to show what they are thinking, this suggests that the translations were in fact really bad.

zagfles

Voyager2002 wrote: »

I find it to be pretty good but not good enough...

The classic was when we were using it for trade negotiations with the Chinese... we needed to demonstrate that our standards for food safety, regulations on permitted additives and so forth, were at least as good as the Chinese regulations so that they could allow British food to be sold there without putting their population at risk. A lot of the material to be translated was highly technical, but Google translate was all that we had. Some of the time they seemed happy with the text we showed them, but at times they collapsed in helpless laughter! Since the peoples of the Far East are famous for their ability not to show what they are thinking, this suggests that the translations were in fact really bad.

You used Google Translate for highly technical trade negotiations?? Seriously?? No wonder they laughed!

moneyistooshorttomention

Well if it's the same standard as the "translate" function on Facebook = oh boy:rotfl::rotfl:

You can imagine that in Wales that there are posts put up on some community Facebook pages that aren't in English. Cue for no idea what they're saying - so on those times I don't just think "Blow it" and scroll straight past, but push the "Translate" button, it never ever translates into good logical English. There are times when it's that bad that one can't even make out what the post is saying at all.

So - if it's the same standard for other languages = I'll make that a 2 or 3 out of 10 on average for quality.

Voyager2002

zagfles wrote: »

You used Google Translate for highly technical trade negotiations?? Seriously?? No wonder they laughed!

That is Civil Service standard -- we don't expect the taxpayer to splash out for human translators when we have Google on our laptops.

It seems that Google translate is also being used for the Brexit negotiations.

Is it possible to have too much austerity?

gettingtheresometime

The only time I've used google translate was when I was sat on a plane, next to a guy who couldn't speak any English& takeoff was delayed for 4 hours.

I used it so he knew what was going on.

Don't know if it translated what I was typing logically but he seemed to understand

elsien

Leaflet in another language in local hospital to explain person's rights when detained under the Mental Health Act. According to the interpreter finally drafted in, it was almost complete gibberish.
I did wonder if it worked better with some languages than others.

zagfles

Voyager2002 wrote: »

That is Civil Service standard -- we don't expect the taxpayer to splash out for human translators when we have Google on our laptops.

It seems that Google translate is also being used for the Brexit negotiations.

Is it possible to have too much austerity?

Maybe a radical idea but how about employing negotiators who actually speak the language? It's not like there are no Chinese speakers in the UK. Having a good cultural understanding also helps with negotiating. But I suppose diversity in the civil service is too much to ask for...

Imagine if some representatives of a foreign company or government came over here and tried selling us something, but none of them spoke English. We wouldn't give them time of day.

zagfles

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Well if it's the same standard as the "translate" function on Facebook = oh boy:rotfl::rotfl:

You can imagine that in Wales that there are posts put up on some community Facebook pages that aren't in English. Cue for no idea what they're saying - so on those times I don't just think "Blow it" and scroll straight past, but push the "Translate" button, it never ever translates into good logical English. There are times when it's that bad that one can't even make out what the post is saying at all.

So - if it's the same standard for other languages = I'll make that a 2 or 3 out of 10 on average for quality.

I have a lot of foreign facebook friends and the translations are complete rubbish - useful for the occasional word but I usually understand better in French/German/Swedish even though I'm far from fluent in any of them.

Voyager2002

zagfles wrote: »

Maybe a radical idea but how about employing negotiators who actually speak the language? It's not like there are no Chinese speakers in the UK. Having a good cultural understanding also helps with negotiating. But I suppose diversity in the civil service is too much to ask for...

Imagine if some representatives of a foreign company or government came over here and tried selling us something, but none of them spoke English. We wouldn't give them time of day.

Excellent idea: a suggestion for your MP.

eDicky

The result from using any Web translator (I use Yandex) is limited by the quality of the input. If you enter clear and simple English, for example, with correct grammar, there is more chance of an intelligible result. Even then it will never be perfect but at least the general meaning can be assessed, and then edited by a native speaker if required.