You may have noticed that we played a little game with this newsletter. To drive home the point that only professionally translated content will ensure accuracy for your important correspondences, we purposely added two errors to the original newsletter - one was a translation error and one was a simple sentence error in English. A trick added to this Halloween newsletter treat that shows how easily a rapid reading of documents can overlook mistakes. Please reread the newsletter and see if you can determine where the errors have been corrected!
The best part about AI translation tools is that they are supposedly free. Except that their mistakes can be very costly, especially if no one at your organization can check them.
While AI is definitely improving, it is far from perfect. Common mistakes are in word usage, lack of conversion between Imperial and Metric measurements, many expressions and nuances, and general lack of cultural adaption.
Consider the simple sentence, “I’d like to introduce you to my friends.” Many languages distinguish between “you” formal [as in business] and informal [as in families]. Because of the word “friends,” AI translations assume the informal “you.” But what if the speaker were talking to a prominent visitor from abroad? The informal “you” is totally inappropriate.
In many languages, “friends” are either masculine or feminine. AI usually assumes masculine plural. But what if a business woman wanted to introduce you to her female friends who could help in your joint venture? The mixing of pronouns and genders will seem offensive in many cultures.
For “friends,” Spanish normally uses “amigos” [masculine] and “amigas” [feminine] but in current usage, has created the word “amigues” to refer to both or unknown genders. Almost no AI uses that. And for formal “you” in Spanish, some countries use “usted” and others use “vos.” Incorrect usage also will offend.
In other languages, English words such as author, teacher, professor, director, manager, president or doctor must specify the gender of that profession. AI programs sometimes give both choices but usually defer to the masculine. That too can offend women.
Regarding word usage, Americans assume that paying a hydro bill in Canada means paying the water bill. Except that “hydro” means “electric” there. And what pray-tell is Canadian “homo milk?” The answer is under my signature below.
Similarly, put these Danish expressions in AI and you get their literal meanings:
“Dum som en torsk” > “Dumb as a cod” which means “Very stupid.”
“Frisk som en fisk” > “Fresh as a fish” which means “Fit as a fiddle / healthy.”
And finally, a sign of “Rulers for Visitors” in Shanghai parks include that “mentalpatients are admitted only under custody” while a Chinese garment label stated, “Qualification. Wash by hand, 30 degrees C, No chlorine, No wring, In coleslaw.”
Please remember:
· What seems obvious may offend if used in the wrong situation; and
· You get what you (don’t) pay for: Are mistakes worth the risk to your reputation?
Unlike AI-only solutions, Auerbach International guarantees accuracy and precision -- by combining AI with Master’s-level translators and interpreters who speak your subject terminology. With over three decades of experience in most every industry, our professionals convert expressions and first ask questions about your context – for 120 languages.
Please contact us to connect cultures, to unlock opportunities worldwide, and to identify promising countries to enter and strategies to enter them.
Thank you,
Philip Auerbach
Founder, President & CEO
Auerbach International
Headquarters - 415-592-0042
www.auerbach-intl.com
translations@auerbach-intl.com
PS: In Canada, “homo milk” is “homogenized milk.” Obvious, eh?
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