UPDATE: ONE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE VIA GOOGLE TRANSLATE - QUEEN/KING of the COMMENT SECTION

[Ewaade_3A]

Hola!

Como estas?

Yesterday, I shared with us How to Use; One Universal Language Via Google Translate on CONNECT.

I received some contributions from @MortenCopenhagen while @ErmesT shared some insights that engineered today’s topic;

UPDATE: ONE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE VIA GOOGLE TRANSLATE - QUEEN/KING of the COMMENT SECTION

In this ‘Update’, I will be sharing with us two ‘real life’ scenarios.

CASE SCENARIO 1: TYPING MY RESPONSE WITHOUT USING GOOGLE TRANSLATE

In this 1st case scenario, I am responding to my Italian and Chinese friends in English language, knowing fully well that there is a ‘Google Translate’ button embedded on the top right corner of the CONNECT website.

The four screenshots below highlight the probable results after my friends use the embedded 'Google Translate’ on the Connect Website;

This is very correct in English Language, right? But take a good look at the translation below;

Do you get what I am saying? Will my Italian friend respond? Is he a lady talk more two ladies?

There is bound to be a misunderstanding, right?

I am sorry?

This is ‘seemingly close’, right? Yet, it neither expresses my thought nor convey my message.

CASE 1 SCENARIO CONCLUSION

In this first scenario, the message I want to pass across has been lost because of wrong translation, right? Is it really a wrong translation or did Google Translate just throw back to me what I fed into it?

CASE SCENARIO 2: TYPING MY RESPONSE USING GOOGLE TRANSLATE

After reading the translations, I realize that the information I am trying to convey has been lost.

So, what do I do?

I change both the words and word order, inserting punctuation where necessary.

We end up with the following screenshots;

Better, right?

Flawless, right?

CASE 2 SCENARIO CONCLUSION

Now, take a closer look at the 2nd case scenario, you will discover that; I am able to pass my message across clearly because I have double checked using Google translate.

CONCLUSION

When writing a Post, this technique may prove difficult because you do not know your likely audience or the language they will be translating your text into. It will be even more difficult to double-check your Posts with the 109 languages available on Google Translate, this is understandable, right?

However, when responding to a comment, you should make some efforts to employ the ‘Google Translate’ when responding to other Local Guides in the ‘Comments’ section other than relying solely on the 'Google Translate’ embedded on Connect.

I want to see us moving from being Capable Local Guides to Super Capable Local Guides. It begins from the little consideration we show one another. To this end, effective communication is key.

RULE OF THUMB

Before commenting or responding to a comment;

1. check the primary language of the person you responding to or the language the post was written
2. write your response or comment
3. paste your response into Google Translate
4. Translate the ‘translated version’ back into your own language?
5. Does it mean the same thing?
6. If Yes, Post
7. If No, change the ‘words’ or ‘word order’, then repeat 3-5 If you are satisfied, then post

TIPS

I have come to realize that; punctuation helps the ‘Google Translate’ a lot! Please use your punctuation appropriately.

Thank you.

Now, it is time for you, to take your throne as the Queen or the King of the Comment Section.

It is time to rule because no matter the language you are responding in or commenting in, you are the King or the Queen with the best translator in the world; 'THE GOOGLE TRANSLATE’, therefore, you are able to pass your message across effectively.

See you at the top!

[ErmesT]

@Ewaade_3A

Thanks for tagging me

I really appreciate your efforts, btw the example that you used for my language starts from a wrong assumption: that the reverse translation from Italian to English is correct.

Your first translation to Italian was perfect, because in Italian the world “signore” have a double meaning:

• Singular, male (sir)
• Plural, female (ladies)

An Italian will perfectly understand your sentence, because will adapt the meaning to the context.

BTW, Google translate will offer a second opinion to you, if you do a double “reverse translation”

In any case, feel free to use the language you find most comfortable, we will understand you

As I said, I prefer to write in English, even if I know that my English is not perfect, but I will never try to write with the translator in a language if I am not able at least to understand that language

[Ewaade_3A]

@ErmesT

If you think ‘your English is not perfect’, let’s polish it, while you teach me Italian I have had to deal with the fact that I do not understand Italian language since the beginning of the Lockdown. The Papal Masses are celebrated in Italian language and we have to follow through with a translator.

Thank you for your insights.

[ErmesT]

Thanks @Ewaade_3A , oh yes, the Pope celebrate the mass in Italian, after the decision to stop using Latin.

Latin was the first language I learned, when I was 12, and I was deeply impressed by the fact that Latin have a huge amount of words to say “white”. Every word define a different kind of white, with a different quality. Funny, isn’t it?

I spent a big part of my life traveling around the world, and what I have learned from Latin pushed me to try to learn, in every place, the local Language (it wasn’t always a successful activity) to try to better understand the deep, intrinsic value, of every language. Now I can understand French, Spanish, English, and a bit of simplified Chinese, even if of course I started all the time from English.

I deeply appreciate the difference, and the quality of that.

[Ewaade_3A]

@ErmesT You are very right! I like Latin because of its inflections. I also like latin because it has influenced many of the major languages of the word. When I began to study to write my ‘American exams’, it was the ‘root words’ system we employed in building our vocabulary.

For example; each time you see; ‘Lumi’, you know it has to do with ‘Light’, so each time you are faced with a difficult word, you can easily decide on which words to eliminate and on the ones to keep.

I never knew there was a decision to stop having Masses said in Latin. Are you a Catholic too? but I have heard that Latin is a primitive language and is only spoken in the Vatican city

[ErmesT]

Latin was used in the Masses till 1969, when the Vatican gave the permission to use the Local Language @Ewaade_3A .

In Vatican city they speak Italian, even if Latin is used in all the official documents.

Latin is a very ancient language that was the origin of the modern Italian, French, Spanish, Romanian languages.

Latin words still used in legal language worldwide, and Roman Law is studied in most of the Law’s universities

[Raphael-Mahumane]

Hi @Ewaade_3A thank you for sharing your findings, I am impressed how deep you went trying to test this. It is a great feeling to see that other people are still looking for a better way to translate languages to keep the exact expression, meaning or theme of a post.

My worries here are that when you focus a lot on translation you will end up focusing most of your energy doing the translation, meaning that constructing a post, or a long post or even a comment may take longer for you to construct, what if you were talking to someone verbally face to face, depending on a translation may be a disadvantage for you at that moment unless you use a voice translation device.

When creating a post here the point is to communicate with people globally not to promote your local language, it is a nice thing to use your preferably language that you are most comfortable with especially your home local language, remember that English language is a requirement for local guides events such as meetups and summits, I think that it would be better to teach your self writing in English, as this will improve your understanding of the language each and every time you write a post or comment to a post here, I am doing the same, learning each and everyday.

Translation tools available on connect:

Translating between languages is easy when doing it here on connect than trying to use external sources, opening multiple window tabs on your computer or smartphone.

I would like to hear your response on this @Ewaade_3A and @ErmesT what is your take on my comment? Cheers!

[Ewaade_3A]

what could my moderator possibly learn from a newbie like me?

“I think that it would be better to teach your self writing in English, as this will improve your understanding of the language each and every time you write a post or comment to a post here”

About this comment

In my opinion, I think this will be tantamount to putting everyone in a box. There are so many languages around the world, one should never feel insufficient just because of the language they speak.

I can speak, read, write and think in English because that is the official language in my country but there are so many people who do not have English as their official language, should I feel privileged over them? I think my answer is obvious, it’s a big NO!

I am particularly interested in Photography, more than half of my current ‘mentors’ on Photography here on Connect at the moment do not speak English Language, but we get along well, if we met, after the initial ‘hellos’, we will communicate using the ‘Google Translate’.

Your suggestion that everyone should learn the English language as it is the primary language of Connect is a good one; I believe it will help people open up avenues for growth and personal development, however, it should never undermine our activities here on CONNECT.

Although, I am just a little over a month old on Connect, I already have ‘friends’ and ‘acquaintances’ from a variety of backgrounds and diverse cultures; we have been able to ‘Connect’ because I have being communicating with these amazing Local Guides in their ‘Comfort zone’.

The goal of the Local Guides Connect is to; “Share tips, discoveries, and news with the community for people on Google Maps”, we should avail ourselves the opportunity to do just this and if expending some energy to ensure we “translate languages to keep the exact expression, meaning or theme of a post”, I think it is an energy that has been put to good use.

Thank you for this analysis, I look forward to reading more from you. From your name, I can see that you are from one of the countries I have been looking forward to visit, I hope to ‘connect’ with you @Raphael-Mahumane

[Raphael-Mahumane]

Hi @Ewaade_3A thank you for your response. Embracing our culture is what we must all do as that is what we are, irregardless of language, food and etc. I did not mean to put other people in the box sorry about that, my aim raising these points was that if we focus on separating people by languages, what we are doing is creating a division, people will start preferring certain posts based on a language or geographical area, instant of content or simply the quality of content, in short, it may look like you are only talking to that group of people speaking that language.

I do not favor certain languages among others, but I am trying to find a common ground where all can meet and enjoy the content which may be photography or travel and others as you also mentioned, please do not take this as an attack to you, I am trying to understand too and to share how others may take this…

Imagine reading a post with a tittle ending with something like: …Sesotho speaking local guides, before you engage on the post you are already being excluded from the post. This may mean nothing if you did not think about it and analyze it or you are not affected by it.

I have noticed something some days ago, there was a post which had a screen short, which consisted of a text on it and it was not written in English, that alone tells anyone who does not understand that language to stay away from the post or you should open multiple window tabs on your smartphone or computer to translate. What if we try to minimize staying in our comfort zone and learn, wouldn’t that be helpful in the next coming 2 or 3 days… you don’t have to answer that question.

Let’s enjoy the beauty of technology and take advantage of it. I enjoyed reading your comments, and I hope I have learnt something here. I am glad you planning to visit my country, I hope to read one of your post from your trip. Cheers!

[Ewaade_3A]

@Raphael-Mahumane

I was smiling all through. I am just replying now because I spent a lot of time editing the post I just put up. Thank you for adding on information to your previous comment.

We are Guides, together we stand, in unity and forever.