roy@keivs.com
February 12, 2026
10:20 am
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How messages get muddled with dialects and AI

Communication is clear when both the speaker and the listener understand the same meaning of the used words. And of course, when gender intervenes, there is no guarantee of common understanding … as any husband or wife can confirm.

Nevertheless, intentions get distorted if the same words have different meanings across dialects of the same language … another reason why professional linguists are critical to convey concepts correctly.

Common misconceptions for Americans are UK English words like:

surgery (a doctor’s, dentist’s or vet’s office in the UK, the actual procedure in the US);
sultana (a golden raisin in the UK, a sultan's wife or concubine in the US);
stone (a weight unit of 14 pounds in the UK, a hard, nonmetallic rock in the US);
pudding (any dessert in the UK, a custard-like sweet dessert in the US);
to table an issue (to deal with now in the UK, to postpone in the US); and
hire purchase (to pay on an installment plan in the UK, no meaning in the US, equivalent would be to finance a purchase in the US).

If you use AI to translate this UK sentence, “After dinner I ordered a sultana pudding that looked like it weighed a stone!,” you can get this US English translation, “After dinner I ordered a sultana pudding that looked like it weighed a ton.” …. which is simply not clear.

In Portuguese, some meanings differ between Brazil and Portugal:

Apelido is a nickname in Brazil and a last name in Europe;
Bicha is a derogatory term for a gay man in Brazil and a line (a queue to Brits) in Europe; and
Propina is tuition fees in Brazil and a bribe in Europe.

Similarly, a bus is an ônibus in Brazil but an autocarro in Portugal, while a train is a comboio in Portugal but a military convey in Brazil. Using the wrong words in a tourism context muddles your marketing.

In French, the same words can differ between Europe and Canada. For example,

a car is a voiture in France and a char in Quebec;
a drink is a boisson in France and a breuvage in Quebec;
a mobile phone is a portable in France and a cellulaire (or cell) in Quebec; and
a girlfriend is copine in France but a blonde in Quebec French (even if she’s a redhead!).

So the sentence, “My girlfriend ordered a drink before she talked on the phone in her car” In Canada becomes, “Ma blonde a commandé un breuvage avant d’jaser à son cellulaire dans son char” …. which is incomprehensible in France.

In essence, knowing the right dialect is critical to maintain accuracy in writing and speaking. And AI translations:

do not always recognize idioms and local words;
provide many alternatives (rural, urban, younger, casual, older, slangy, etc.) from which non-native speakers will find hard to choose; and
won’t determine the most appropriate version to use.

That’s why native, professional, subject-specialized linguists such as ours are a critical part of our process. Our human linguists guarantee precision, accuracy, cultural adaptation and -- most importantly -- context to ensure that your message resonates as precisely as possible in your desired languages.

BLOOPERS

Miscommunications also arise when non-native speakers think they know English, as with these overseas signs in….

a Moscow hotel room during the Soviet era (and why small words matter): “If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.”
a Leipzig (Germany) hotel elevator: “Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when lit up.”
a Paris hotel elevator: “Please leave your values at the front desk.”

CONCLUSION

If precision and accuracy are critical for you, professional linguists are an essential part of the process. With our 35 years of experience, maintaining your reputation for quality and excellence starts with our free quotes for translations of anything written (documents, websites, videos, books, newsletters, social media and more) or for interpretations of anything spoken (meetings, conferences, trials and phone calls).

Any language. Any subject. Any time.