Google Translate or Transliterate?

Although Google Translate and the iPhone can be the duo reasons the general population has given up on language learning, some clarification is necessary to understand how Google Translate works and when a human translator is necessary. Translation is not a word for word replacement, or transliteration. Translation is the process of adapting a document into a target language, including changing currencies, date codes, measurements, etc. The most important aspect of translation is the cultural aspect which is ingrained in the translator, and impossible to replicate with computerized translation. However, Google Translate does have some useful applications.

First, Google Translate can be used to replace a phrase book when traveling. Short phrases like "Where is the train station?" or "Do you have a room available?" can be translated using Google Translate with a relatively high degree of accuracy, especially in commonly spoken languages and can be used for translating everyday items.

Where it starts to get tricky, however, is when brand names are used that should not be translated, and each country has legal requirements for packaging and labeling translations throughout Europe. Especially when it comes to marketing, and finding culturally appropriate tag lines or product names, it is CRUCIAL to work with a reputable translation agency to find the right context for the translation.

Second, Google Translate can be used to communicate in social situations where a common language is not present. For example, we had Chinese guests who spoke no English, so we used the verbal tool from Google Translate to determine what they liked for breakfast, and simple requests.

However, Google Translate should NEVER be used in dangerous situations where a high degree of accuracy is crucial or even life-saving. An example of this would be a medical emergency where a precise diagnosis is crucial to survival. Another example would be a political situation where negotiations are taking place and high stress levels play into what reactions could happen if misinterpretations occurred.

Finally, when communicating in business internationally, especially with marketing, quality translations are crucial to make a good impression. If materials like websites are quickly and poorly translated, it is viewed as a company that isn't serious about its international clients, and is interpreted as arrogance by the receiving country.

So if you're just having fun learning new words while traveling and trying to communicate like a local, Google Translate is perfect. But if you're serious about expanding your business internationally and looking for a long-term quality reputation, a live translator is the only way to go. The only way to ensure a culturally-sensitive translation is to ensure that the target language is the native language of the translator. As an American, I would never offer to translate into French, even though I am fluent. However, I can translate from European French into American English, or revise what a non-Native English person translated into English.