Have you ever tried to use Google Translate to speak to a foreigner?

Question

concerned4u · Accepted Answer

I would do it, but check online the full sentence after it types it. I have some knowledge of Spanish so I can tell that it will take some things out of context of what I'm trying to say. If you're wanting to say a little bit to the person, I'd say, if you can do a google search to see if it's right, that's best. If a full conversation, unless you use very simple words in English to translate over, it will likely not do it right. E. g. irritatingly, sometimes, I've said: "hey google, how do you say spider in Spanish?" and google will say, 'okey, come se dice arana in espanol?' in which case, I'd literally be saying: "how do you say spider in Spanish?", to which they may laugh. :D

SueShe · Accepted Answer

I have never used any translation program to actually talk with other people.

However, I frequently use the translation programs to attempt to read what a number of GaG users post in a foreign language. I must admit that all those translation programs fail to do a good job with a number of languages where the phrase structure differs too much from those of sharing common Latin/Greek origins.

Languages with Proto-Uralic origins such as Finnish or perhaps Hungarian as well as the majority of Asian languages are very poorly translated into English, French or German.

At best, one can get a general sense of the meaning of the sentence but not more.

wkozak · Accepted Answer

Yes but it went wrong unfortunately, I'm a native Arabic speaker and my English wasn't good at past, some words in Arabic has many meanings, and many sentences i tried to translate went so wrong, luckily i corrected it but some words in the middle i didn't know it's meaning exactly so misunderstanding happened and it ended up so badly.

FunkyMonkee · Accepted Answer

Years ago had it sucked. I went through 3 or 4 of those translation sites before I got one that actually worked. I don't understand why everybody's GOTTA have their dick plugged firmly into Google!! Bing works a LOT better and I'm hearing now that Duck Duck Go is even better.

purplepoppy · Answer

I think it's ok for translating single words but sentences often come out as garbled nonsense. Both parties have to be aware of it's limitations and think what is the other person trying to say, rather than whats Google coming up with.
Classic example a small heating companies van here says " Jones and daughters. HEAT" in welsh. Google translate converts it to "jones and his hot daughters"

Aerissa_Jade · Answer

Claro que lo he usado para hablar con un chico en Turquía en Turco.

Puede ser bastante fresco, pero no siempre preciso, pero en general es bastante útil. Ahora apuesto a que lo usará para detectar lo que está mal, a menos que sepa.

Basically that says, sure I have... but it isn't always 100% accurate but pretty good.

TransAm85 · Answer

I have to. I am around Spanish speaking people everyday all day. I know basic Spanish and the slang/cuss words, but a whole sentence I can't say. If ur young, learn Spanish bc half the US population speaks it. When u get older lk me, it's harder to learn a new language.

DeeToPlay · Answer

Yes and as an English speaker trying to talk to someone who spoke Tagalog I was laughed at by those who I was messaging. They laughed and said how cute he's trying fortunately she spoke English I was just trying to impress her a little bit and I unimpressed are quite a bit. How embarrassing thanks Google for the embarrassing day.

WhiteSteve · Answer

Not really a foreigner, the guy was Puerto Rican, but he didn’t speak much English and I spoke even less Spanish lmao, so I pulled it out and we were able to communicate some business stuff. It was very helpful👍

Laura131 · Answer

I did befor when I was in Germany and I didn't know how to pronounce krankenhaus so I had to use Google and press the voice button so people would know what we needed lol.

Adam1978 · Answer

No I know it sucks, your lucky if you can translate single words right. But full sentences will come out horrible all the time.

jennifer_bloom · Answer

I had a friend from Brazil do that with me and his English was just as good as a native English speaker, no grammar or spelling errors.

MrtoddsWildRide · Answer

Yes. I was working for company and the owner and I were the only ones that were not fresh from Cuba.  I wouldn't have been able to do that job otherwise.

TacosRAwesome · Answer

Yes. When I was with my ex we went to visit his family in Finland and his grandma didn't speak any English, so we had to work with Google translate. Somehow managed to make a berry pie.

megabamse · Answer

So many countries that don't really know English. We don't speak English, but all of us have learned it. Not that hard.

lrina · Answer

it's best to avoid doing that unless it's absolutely necessary lol

dustybiker · Answer

Yes. Well, babblefish. Years ago, back when it was new and basic. Worked like a charm.

call_me_scar · Answer

Yes if my neighbors left their car lights on I'll type in a message in Spanish just in case before telling them what's up

genericname85 · Answer

no. every time i was in a situation, where that would have helped, i had no internet connection for some reason.

laurieluvsit · Answer

Yes, some of them laugh and say that google is quite getting it right on some things.

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

Yeah heaps of times and for them to speak to me, really handy when visiting Glesgae.

PrettyPriya · Answer

No, can't say that I have. I find it to be widely inaccurate in a lot of cases.

AviatorTom · Answer

I've used it during online chat sessions but never verbally.

innerman · Answer

Yea but because different languages have different grammar... sometimes the message is lost in the translation

Nagatoro · Answer

Why, of course. Then I decided to stop being stupid and actually attempt to learn the language.

Waldoe · Answer

often... they are working on a option to do it as you type...

noohair · Answer

Yes and it works but it does not do everything well. There can be misunderstandings.

bulletbob555 · Answer

I guess I had someone that used it while we were talking. Helped a lot

Valenn999x · Answer

I'm Asian and I ues all the time! 🤣 even though I have English boyfriend Lol but yeah it's not a big problem. we use for learning languages

michael1469 · Answer

Yes, it works pretty good English to Spanish anyway.

skyeee_ · Answer

the translation ain't always THAT accurate

jahaims · Answer

Yeah helped someone buy shoes once

Jay3344 · Answer

Yes and I’m sure they laughed about it

Babygirl_S · Answer

Yes I used it once while talking to a French guy.

scooogy · Answer

No, I talk only in german :P

DanielleB23 · Answer

no. Google translate is terrible

Jessegirl1998 · Answer

Yes though some don’t always translate well.

Thereisnoway · Answer

I haven't used it while speaking.

DaddyDiablo · Answer

Yes.

Iron_Man · Answer

No I haven’t

Fuentes · Answer

Lol nah

TrillXHippy · Answer

I definitely have

MrTaboo · Answer

Yes, kind of worked.

captainggaming · Answer

I definitely have

Have you ever tried to use Google Translate to speak to a foreigner?

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Have you ever tried to use Google Translate to speak to a foreigner?

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