Google brings translation to Gmail

Author: Gareth Halfacree
Published: 21st May 2009
Comments (8) Stumble
Google brings translation to Gmail

The new automatic message translation feature in Gmail relies on the quality of Google's machine translation system.

Google has announced that it is to expand on the success of its Google Translate service with the addition of instant translation between different languages in Gmail.

Expanding on the work it did at the end of 2007 adding real-time translation to its IM service Google Talk, the company has released a – currently experimental – extension for its popular Gmail service which allows the user to automatically translate their e-mails into 41 different languages.

Dubbed Message Translation, the feature integrates the company's pre-existing Google Translate technology into the Gmail webmail interface. Accessible by activating the Google Labs extension – the feature is not on by default – received e-mails are automatically translated as they are viewed.

The functionality does not extend to sent e-mails – however, the feature is available to all Gmail users regardless of native language – allowing the recipient of your vitally important messages to simply automatically translate your e-mail into their native tongue as you did theirs.

Machine translation is not without its pitfalls, however: although Google's translation engine is one of the better ones out there, it's not perfect – and can often result in sentences even less comprehensible than the original language. For anything vital, it will always be important to hire a professional translator – but for a quick e-mail to an acquaintance you met on a foreign holiday it just might make the conversation flow a little easier.

The feature is available on Gmail now by choosing “Settings,” “Labs,” and enabling “Message Translation.”

Do you think that Google's work is bringing us a step closer to the fabled Star Trek Universal Translator, or is automatic machine translation only going to spell trouble? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
Quote ch424 21st May 2009, 11:22
yay, now I can read all my russian spam!
Quote mjm25 21st May 2009, 11:48
'ach laH mugh tlhIngan? (dont judge me, im trying to keep my brain ticking over for exams) and plus rep to whoever works out what that says... xxx
Quote uncle_fungus 21st May 2009, 11:59
I may live to regret this, but...

jIyaj

"but can [it] translate klingon?"

ghobe'
Quote mjm25 21st May 2009, 12:21
haha! that was way too quick... it took me longer to find the translation from english! have some rep sir.
Quote uncle_fungus 21st May 2009, 13:23
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjm25
haha! that was way too quick... it took me longer to find the translation from english! have some rep sir.

Cheers matey! ;)

In my defense, I didn't know precisely what it meant without looking it up. I knew it was Klingon, and was bored at work so...
Quote Dreaming 21st May 2009, 17:26
Now I can speak to friends who don't speak English! Yay!

Next step: make some friends who don't speak English... (any takers? :P)
Quote coolius 21st May 2009, 17:51
I wonder if it translates badly written Nigerian English
Quote perplekks45 21st May 2009, 18:34
If the Google translation for websites is anything to go by that could lead to a lot of people feeling offended due to really badly translated emails. :)
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