While using Google translate to double check my understanding of an email I’d received in German, I noticed that all was not as it should be. My German is a little rusty, and so I often use free online translation tools as a backup, to verify my understanding.
I know the limitations of machine translation, and as I was only using it to double-check my understanding of the message, I wasn’t so bothered about the incorrect word order and questionable grammar in the translation Google produced:
However, the incorrect translation of “Donnerstag” as “Friday” definitely caught my attention!
Lucky for me that I have the German for days of the week firmly imprinted in my memory, but other people who don’t speak German who rely on Google translate wouldn’t have been so lucky and would have missed the deadline!
Be careful! Machine translation tools are very useful, but are no replacement for a fluent human being, especially if you’re trying to make a professional impression.
If in doubt, get in touch with us – we are always here to help!
30 October 2014 11:08