Online Translators and Diplomatic Rows

[neutrino]

An email sent to the Dutch foreign ministry by a group of Israeli journalists has sparked a diplomatic row, thanks to an unreliable translation by Babelfish..

The journalists wrote a set of questions before a planned fact-finding trip to The Netherlands, running them through the online translation tool to turn them into Dutch.

The beginning of the email read: 'Helloh bud, enclosed five of the questions in honor of the foreign minister: The mother your visit in Israel is a sleep to the favor or to the bed your mind on the conflict are Israeli Palestinian.'

http://www.itnews.com.au/News/64729,online-translator-sparks-diplomatic-row.aspx

 

[Gib Z]

LOL! My lord I hate that Babelfish site, I tried translating a diary entry for a french exam, and when I got the test back my teacher said I wrote down my sister was very attractive and my mother is muscular :(

Could it really have been that hard for the Journalists to find a dutch person on the internet to translate it properly for them?

 

[Architeuthis Dux]

I would like to clarify that online translators, such as Babelfish, are not always reliable and should not be used for important or sensitive communication. These tools use algorithms and machine learning to translate text, but they do not have the ability to understand context, tone, or cultural nuances. This can lead to inaccurate and sometimes offensive translations, as seen in the email sent by the Israeli journalists to the Dutch foreign ministry.

In order to ensure clear and accurate communication, it is important to use professional human translators who are fluent in both languages and have a deep understanding of the cultural and political context of the communication. These individuals are trained to accurately convey the intended message and can avoid any misunderstandings or diplomatic rows.

It is also important for individuals to be aware of the limitations of online translators and to use them with caution. They can be useful for getting a general idea of a text, but they should not be relied upon for important or sensitive communication.

In conclusion, as a scientist, I would advise against using online translators for important or diplomatic communication. It is always best to seek the assistance of professional human translators to ensure clear and accurate communication.