Why can’t I just use the free translation tools that are available on the internet to translate my website?

This is a question we get asked a lot.

The truth is that tools such as google's on-line translator, whilst good at what they do, will only be able to give you a very literal translation of what the text means. They are not intended to provide you with copy that can be published in another language.

Language is something that is central to our culture and very being. To translate a piece of text we have to determine the true meaning of the copy and then re-assemble it in another language, using the rules, text and idioms specific to that language (and in some cases culture). These are tasks that even the most powerful computers in the world cannot even get close to, so why would a free-online tool produce publishable copy in a foreign language?

To effectively translate a piece of text, a professional mother tongue translator who has proven expertise in the subject area must be used.

To illustrate the point we have used one of the most popular free on-line translation tools to translate well known phrases from one language into another and then back again.

Try and guess what the original source text was before reading the translation. You'll see that each example is just about understandable but would not present your company in a very good light if published.

Free Translation - Example 1

Everyone a step, and all the men and the women the simply players: they have their gone out and their entries; and a man in his time plays a lot of parties, his acts is seven ages.

From ‘As You Like It’ by William Shakespeare

Original text

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.

Translated from English into French and then back again by www.freetranslation.com

Free Translation - Example 2

I have a dream, that became the mine four small children a day, does not live will become in a nation where judged some colour of its skin, but across the content of its character.

From Martin Luther King, Jr.

Original text

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.

Translated from English into Italian and then back again by www.freetranslation.com

Free Translation - Example 3

That is a small pace for man, a gigantic jump for the humanity.

Neil Armstrong 1969

Original text

One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind

Translated from English into Portuguese and then back again by www.freetranslation.com

Free Translation - Example 4

Be the best one of times, era the most worse one of times

The opening sentence of A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens

Original text

‘it was the best of times, it was the worst of times’

Translated from English into Portuguese and then back again by www.freetranslation.com

Contact K International

K International only ever use professional mother tongue translators working in their own subject area. Contact us on 01908 572600, info@k-international.com or via our contact page.