True2marie Posted December 6, 2013 Report Share Posted December 6, 2013 I ran across an article I would like to share - Google Translate: Why It's no Match for Learning a Language. Link: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2013/oct/08/google-translate-no-match-learning-languageThe author of this piece makes really good points. The one I like is: exchange trips would become a thing of the past. You'd miss that mutely chain-smoking 14-year-old Belgian boy with a full beard who glowers at you from the kitchen table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyDigitalpoint Posted December 6, 2013 Report Share Posted December 6, 2013 Absolutely right! This article shows that Google Translate is a waste of time.It has improved when compared with previous versions throughout the years but it's still totally inaccurate, not to mention that it takes it "literally" hence sometimes a expression that in one language has a specific connotation, Google translates "as is" without realizing the context of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiralArchitect Posted December 6, 2013 Report Share Posted December 6, 2013 That's kind of stating the obvious isn't it. Google translate simply cannot be a replacement for actual learning. I personally think that it's use is limited to translating things that you may suddenly come across online. It also translates websites decently enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baburra Posted December 6, 2013 Report Share Posted December 6, 2013 Agreed, it's certainly no replacement for human intuition and knowledge, at least not yet. Google Translate and other translation software are still at their early stages though, and I don't think it's fair to judge it harshly yet. After all, even Google searches were once not as efficient as it is now, and look at how dependent we've become on it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thekernel Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 It is direly useless if you are trying to translate large chunks of text and many sentences. For individual words though, I find it pretty helpful. Translation algorithms will probably take a long time before they become standardized to the grammar rules and syntax of each language. When that happens though, communication barriers will be smaller than ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alrikidokie Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Google translate has never been anything other than a load of trouble for me. It makes the simplest things even harder to understand! I've no doubt that it's no match for learning a language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderer Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 It also translates websites decently enough.I always thought that was its original intent anyway. I never saw, or used, Google translate as a learning tool. You can pick up a few things here and there while in the process of doing something else, but that type of "peripheral learning" isn't very useful if you're a serious student. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JessiFox Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 Now that just makes me wonder if anyone really thinks it COULD be a substitute for actual learning. It's alright for the occasional web translation or trying to get a word or two right, but otherwise? It's not terribly effective for much more than that. Nor do I think it really tries to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trellum Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 Awesome article, but I really don't need an article to know why Google Translate is no match to learning a language and knowing it well. To be honest I only use Google Translate when I'm truly desperate or to check single groups, but rarely full phrases and paragraphs. Because I know Google Translate does a very funny job when translating full texts. I'd never trust it... not even in a very casual conversation. I'd rather not talk to the person, since Google Translate makes translation mistakes that would make the autocorrect mistakes look like nothing, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daimashin Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 Google Translate is a sort of robot. It does direct translation. Different languages have different sentence structures so it's never accurate. If you want to fully understand a language, there's no other way than to learn it yourself. I only use Google Translate for single words and terms, a long sentence only when I've got no choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidney Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 Google translate would never, ever become a substitute for manually learning a new language since it's computerized, and it can't process translations the way a human brain does. A good example would be the number 4 point in that article. "Sixty two" in Tagalog is "animnapu't dalawa, obviously not "62". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizbeth19hph Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 Google translate is not that reliable. It sort of just translates phrases literally and at times loses the essence or real meaning of a group of words. It should not be recommended for those who are just beginning to learn a new language. It is still way too better and much more effective to learn the language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllllllllllllllllllllllll Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 That's kind of stating the obvious isn't it. Google translate simply cannot be a replacement for actual learning. I personally think that it's use is limited to translating things that you may suddenly come across online. It also translates websites decently enough.^This. Google Translate is just a quick translating solution that translates languages word for word without taking grammar into consideration. We have to admit though that it can be helpful when visiting a website that is using unfamiliar letters/characters. I remember trying to register an account in a Korean MMO game and I was able to get by with the translation of Google to fill up the required fields and complete my registration. :grin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lodismel Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 I think it's pretty obvious that Google translate is no substitution for learning a language. Until translation technology develops quite a bit, this is going to continue to be true. If you've ever spent time messing with Google translate there are lots of ridiculous things that come of it that make no sense. It is a really cool tool though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrix Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Well it has surely improved over the years, but it's still not at the level I'd want it to be, especially with less popular languages - such as Croatian. As Mydigitalpoint said, it translates things "as is", and ignores context behind it, often giving wrong (and humorous) translations as a result.But knowing Google, I think they will bring it to perfection in the upcoming years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Google translate is frustrating, it's so bad sometimes. I use it for one or two words at a time, and even then it can mess up. I would not at all recommend it for full sentences, or using it for an actual class or anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmunmrhundun Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 I know a lot about stuff like this, when I was in school recently learning a foreign language I would always try to use a translator. They don't always spit the language back right. Sometimes it is not worded right and sometimes they don't translate past tense or future tense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredkawig Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 Google translate is only good for translating words. If you input sentences, it would be hilarious to read since the grammar, context and the meaning of the words are all jumbled-up. A computer cannot process grammar, context and the correct meaning of words that is why we have problems like this. In order for you to translate what you want you must enter it word per word which is really futile and tiring since we do not have the luxury of time for those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfab Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 I wish Google would actually update Google Translate because it's super not accurate! I'd rather go for the dictionary or some other translating site if I want to translate something. It's funny how some words turn out there though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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