A Few Questions About On Line Communication Through Language Translators

MemberOriginal Poster

Dec 8, 2021

I have a friend who is attempting to communicate with a woman on line. His native language is English and her native language is Spanish.

She claims that on line language translators are not accurate enough for her to understand his emails that were translated from English to Spanish via Google Translator. He can understand 90 percent of what she emails in Spanish when translated to English with Google Translator.

1) Does anyone have any experience with Google Translator and know if the translations are accurate enough to understand 90 percent of what someone is trying to say?

She invited this man to a closed on line dating site which offers professional language translations through an outside vendor. The translations are done by real humans instead of a computer with AI (artificial intelligence algorithms).

2) He does not know why she wants him to sign up for an on line dating service that offers a so called accurate language translation service through an outside vendor. Does this not sound like a scam when the only thing that is needed for them to communicate is an accurate language translation?

Does anyone know of a really good on line English - Spanish Translator that is accurate enough for both parties to understand each other?

Juts looking for others experiences and ideas here..............

ReactReplySubscribe

Replies

ST
Steve
Dec 9, 2021
I think ninety percent is about right. When I correspond with native French speakers, I do it the lazy way and let Google render my English into French, then read over the French for accuracy. It's usually pretty good, if sometimes odd, and I patch it up. When I have corresponded in German (for a business transaction) and Romanian (socially), neither of which I read, I let Google do a translation, then have Google translate it right back into English for me. If what comes back to me is off, I simplify my English and try again. The first attempt is usually at ninety percent or less; I don't quit until what I get back is a fair paraphrase of what I put in. That assures me that the translation is good.
If your friend tries this and still draws complaints, I'd say it's a red flag.
ReactReply
PA
Paul
Dec 9, 2021
I use google translate all the time. It does a reasonably good job.
Here's a notable issue -- keep in mind that the translation is technically correct, but perhaps not the best option.
Set google translate to translate from English to Dutch.
Type, "I like subtraction," into the English side.
Then click the double-arrow to translate it back into English.
Oops.
ReactReply
FU
FullSun
Dec 9, 2021
[quote]Here's a notable issue -- keep in mind that the translation is technically correct, but perhaps not the best option. Set google translate to translate from English to Dutch. Type, "I like subtraction," into the English side. Then click the double-arrow to translate it back into English. Oops.[/quote] Wow, thats funny but could definitely cause some problems! It definitely shows the imperfections in the automated translations!
ReactReply
PA
Paul
Dec 9, 2021
Indeed. [quote]Doesnt he know anyone who speaks Spanish hat could help? It is the second most spoken language in the US.[/quote] Chances are, he has a neighbor or co-worker who speaks Spanish.
ReactReply
PA
Paul
Dec 9, 2021
Aftrekken means pull off.[quote]Wow, thats funny but could definitely cause some problems! It definitely shows the imperfections in the automated translations![/quote]Literally: off pull, Af trekken.
ReactReply
ME
MemberOriginal Poster
Dec 9, 2021
[quote]Doesnt he know anyone who speaks Spanish hat could help? It is the second most spoken language in the US.[/quote] He does know Puerto Ricans who speak Spanish but those that he knows speak so fast and furious and just seem unable to slow way down and speak clearly.
ReactReply
ME
MemberOriginal Poster
Dec 9, 2021
[quote] If your friend tries this and still draws complaints, I'd say it's a red flag.[/quote] I have read the Spanish to English translation and most of what was translated into English is done accurately. 90 percent accuracy is about right. The remaining 10 percent can eventually be understood by context and by thinking about the overall meaning of what is being said. I told him that if the Spanish speaker is having trouble with understanding his English, then she needs to find (with his help if needed) a good English to Spanish translator (either on line or in person) that can create a more accurate translation for her. She can write to him in Spanish and he can translate Spanish to English with either an on line or in person translator. He does not need to go to some dating service which provides access to an outside professional translation service as dating is not the issue - translation is. I think that something is fishy here but don't want to jump to any conclusions. I have also read that Google Translator retains copies of everything that a person writes and translates and then does whatever they want with it. Hence, Google is not recommended for business transactions where private or sensitive information is used. This is just another issue of privacy and using people's personal information and communication for unknown purposes.
ReactReply
SA
Stone Andy
Dec 9, 2021
It's a common online scam to divert to pay for sites. If you need artificial intelligence for romance, something is wrong.
ReactReply
PA
Paul
Dec 9, 2021
The more I ponder this thread, the more I'm convinced the only goal is to get someone to pay for a site subscription/membership.
No, google translated is not perfect. I talk with people around the world using Skype, which I believe uses the same translation engine as google translate. Sometimes it does a direct and literal word-for-word translation because it couldn't figure out what the person was trying to say.
However, by responding with, "Try saying that a different way; it got translated into gibberish," essentially always works. Unless it's a business situation or something like that, google translate is clearly good enough for friendly chatter.
ReactReply
ME
MemberOriginal Poster
Dec 9, 2021
The more I investigated the dating site in question,, the more I also believe that it is a scam. The site is a closed dating site where women can join by proving their identity that includes either an in person interview at a local office or a Skype interview. Once accepted, the women can invite up to two men to join with an access code. The site is free for women to join but men must pay! Men are certainly not as highly screened as women but will only be accepted by a member woman's invitation. Screening women only proves that the woman is who she claims to be. What she does after she joins the site is another matter. The site is based is based in Moscow, Russia and is run by individual(s) who are anonymous. There are branch offices in Belarus, Ukraine, and Columbia.
There are far too many red flags here and so I warned my friend to run, not walk, away from this woman and dating site. People who have legitimate problems understanding each other with different languages will work to find a good means of language translation either on line or with another local person who speaks the language. They will not invite someone to a dating site which may provide a professional translation service as an additional feature. Most likely, most international dating sites offer this feature but if language translation is the only problem, thenthe solution is to find a good translation service directly instead of pursuing other services which only charge men for their services.
ReactReply
PA
Paul
Dec 9, 2021
Yes. That has "SCAM" written all over it.
ReactReply
JI
Jim
Dec 9, 2021
[quote]I have a friend who is attempting to communicate with a woman on line. His native language is English and her native language is Spanish. She is either as bright as a goat or talking smack for one reason or another, and what his emails are likely not giving someone who is data mining to get identity related information to find your friend or to sell or for a scam as stated and if she really cared about him or communication she would show him what she understands and what she doesn't not make a claim that isn't supported by my experience of that of any other person I know, and tell him get me a better translator. ** However, if your friend writes in abbreviations, doesn't use punctuation, lots of slang, and his grammar is internet short for example: "Did you travel to the coast to go to the nude beach with your freinds, or did you meet there?" is translatable "Holidays... mates go with or is it meetups w/ppl beaches, resorts etc? Nude?" is not
ReactReply
ST
Steve
Dec 9, 2021
@sunluver - good you scoped out the dating site. You've done your friend a real favor.
ReactReply
JO
John
Dec 10, 2021
Sunluver wrote: [quote]The site is free for women to join but men must pay! [/quote] Sounds a little like some of the Midwestern naturist resorts people have talked about
ReactReply
ME
MemberOriginal Poster
Dec 11, 2021
So interesting now that after he told her that he would not join the dating site when their problem could be communication (translation) and that they really needed to find a good translation service together, he never heard from her again. Another interesting thing is that the dating site is free for women to join and once a member she could always send what he wrote in English to be translated into Spanish for her through the outside translation service that the dating site provides a link to. He did not have to join the dating site for him or her to do that. Of course she would need to pay for the translation but if she was sincerely interested in him, then she could do at least this.
Tis the season for scams.............well all need to watch out and not be duped into a scam by some unscrupulous women.
ReactReply
PA
Paul
Dec 11, 2021
Seems like he escaped a scam -- good.
ReactReply
ME
MemberOriginal Poster
Dec 11, 2021
[quote]Seems like he escaped a scam -- good.[/quote] Yes but it is better then that. This woman has now been blocked and kicked off two dating sites after both sites had their fraud investigation units to investigate this woman. What does this tell you? I only wish that a site like this which claims thousands and thousands of members would have a fraud investigation unit so that they could get rid of one scammer after another and keep this site safe and honest for real true nudists - both good men and women.
ReactReply