For years when people asked me about creating translations for their web site I suggested that if it was critical to their business they hire a translator to create secondary pages on their site in the languages they were targeting, especially if their site was full of jargon or idioms. (“Idiom, sir?”) There are plenty of examples of bad translations out there, be they machine or human created:

• Our Mongolian hotpot buffet guarantees you will be able to eat all you wish until you are fed up.
• Specialist in women and other diseases.
• Poo Ping: Thai Cuisine

are just a few of the examples I found online. However, recently I had been reading that Google and other companies had made some giant steps forward by reading human translated documents (often from the UN) and comparing them for better understanding context and language.

So, when Goldbelt Tours, a client of ours, asked for affordable translation we tried Google Translate.

Here is the original page:

At the bottom is the translate bar:

And I chose French:

I especially like the “Contribute Better Translation” feature:

So, does it work? Well, I translated some of the French translation back into English:

Original English:

See it all, do it all, above it all.

Soar to new heights in scenic adventure aboard the Mount Roberts Tramway, Juneau’s top attraction, and experience the best Alaska has to offer.

Translated French:

See it all, do it all, above it all. Voir tout cela, tout faire, par-dessus tout.

Soar to new heights in scenic adventure aboard the Mount Roberts Tramway , Juneau’s top attraction, and experience the best Alaska has to offer. Atteindre de nouveaux sommets dans l’aventure à bord du pittoresque Roberts Tramway du Mont, Haut attraction de Juneau, et l’expérience le meilleur de l’Alaska a à offrir.

Translated English:

See it all, do it all, above everything.

Reaching new heights in adventure on the picturesque Mount Roberts Tramway, Juneau’s top attraction, and experience the best Alaska has to offer.

Final Decision:

Not bad. Now, I wouldn’t want some life saving device instructions translated through Google Translate for fear of being over or under medicated, or ending up with a defibrillator paddle being used on my butt, but for most non-jargony web sites that need to reach an international audience, Google Translate might be the right tool for you.

Rich Brooks
Veillez à suivre Rich Brooks sur Twitter tweets pour son habile.

(Translated back as “Be sure to follow Rich Brooks on Twitter tweets for his skillful.” Apparently there’s still work to be done.)