Translate Server Error

by Cindy King on 14 August, 2008   Share      

Translation Tools

There are many examples of translation and difficulties in cross-cultural communication in the press right now with the Olympics.

I found the photo below at http://adweek.blogs.com/adfreak/2008/07/then-well-grab.html

Translate server error

This company sign is a fine example of why you have to be careful with online translation software.

The original Chinese characters ( 餐厅) should have translated into ‘Restaurant’.

The task of translating only two characters into one word does not seem the most difficult task for a software to do. This translation was obviously done using software, and very little human supervision, if any at all.

A simple cross reference of translating the results back into the original language would have highlighted the error.

This is a fine example of caution necessary when you use translation software to translate into a language that you do not speak.




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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

edizeheldkes 30 December, 2008 at 14:46 pm

hi nice site indeed. how’s life? hope it’s as good as your blog

Reply

Cindy 30 December, 2008 at 19:34 pm

Hi there,

Yes, life is indeed good!

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