Tuesday, 1 July 2014

Facebook Translate is accurate, right?

A few years ago, I went through a phase of print-screening anything I saw on Facebook that I thought was funny (wait, let's back up a moment: A few years ago, I went through a phase called WHY THE HELL WAS I EVER ON FACEBOOK?) and just now, I was flicking through those old print-screens and came across this: a status written by my Korean friend Dana ...or should I say, the English translation of her status according to Facebook Translate.

Bearing in mind that Dana could actually speak and write FLAWLESS English, this was her Korean-written status, as translated by Facebook:

"These days, people know it's selfish it's where established by the real plum is hidden underneath the Manor. Or at least not so elitist thing, but not letting me on the bus beyond the grandfather to wake up and have to go through the motions of forbid even curiga also please help I've asked people listening to music while look looking not touching the cellphone was ignored, the great God who is look ^ ^ real pessimist is like world"

For all I know, the translation was perfect and this was the exact sentiment Dana wanted to express. Hey, I sympathise completely. Real pessimist IS like world.

If this was a bad translation however, and Facebook Translate is no better today, then I have a major request for the Facebook staff:

PLEASE give people the option to translate standard English on Facebook into BAD English! As Dana's status proves, EVERYTHING is better when it's badly translated. Nobody cares what people actually want to write on Facebook, I just want it all to be written in terrible English! ...Oh, wait a minute.

(Checks Jennifer Lopez's Facebook page, reads fan comment: "Baby u lovely want to taste u kisses to u my love hmm your mouth tastee am in love")

Nevermind. Bad idea.