“Be always ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you but with respect and gentleness” (1 Peter 3:15)

From friends at the Captura Group: Lost in (Machine) Translation

Last March, I shared a theory of mine that most Hispanics expect Spanish language websites to be poor quality and, as a result, use the English-language version of a site even if Spanish is their preferred language. Expectations tend to be low because often the Spanish-language version of a given website tends to be inferior to the English version.

With Google’s free machine translation software, Google Translate, showing up on an increasing number of websites, I’m afraid that Hispanic online expectations are at risk of declining even further.

Google Translate is Free. Or is it?

Many marketers and web managers looking to reach Spanish speakers online view Google Translate as the silver bullet. Copy and paste a little snippet of code into your website and presto, your website is now available in Spanish (or any other language). As a result, you can now find Google Translate on many websites including those of countless federal, state and local Governments.

What you will also find on these websites is a lengthy disclaimer that prominently states that content translated by Google may not be accurate, reliable or timely. These disclaimers also completely absolve the website owner of any and all liability that may arise because of inaccurate machine translation. I want to be very clear: website owners are consciously using a system to translate their websites and in the same breath, acknowledging the system may not provide accurate, reliable or timely results.

I believe the cost of potentially inaccurate, unreliable or dated content on any website is simply too high for my clients. Even the smallest translation mistake can destroy the credibility of a website and the organization behind it, severely impacting valuable goodwill.

So no, Google Translate is not free. In fact it can be very costly…

Absolutely correct. As a matter of fact, when I was designing the Polonia Global Fund website, we hired translators (how I came to know Dr. Felipe Korzenny and the Captura Group) to build basic translations of our main informational pages.

It is particularly incumbent on us as Christians, and especially as members of the PNCC, to show respect for seekers from different backgrounds, cultures, and particularly languages. That respect is given through the proper and respectful use of language.

A person’s connection to their culture, and particularly to family and God, is best expressed in their native language. Bishop Hodur and his successors understood that among God’s gifts are the cultures and nations of the world. God’s grace is expressed in particular ways through the lens of culture, which then gifts the entire Church with a deeper understanding of salvation. They knew that there are nuances, even in God’s Word, based on culture.

We need to speak God’s word and give His message in clear and convincing ways which are understandable among the cultures we encounter. They too seek a portion of the one, holy, catholic, apostolic, and democratic Church. Let us give reason for the hope that is in us, and let us do so with respect.

The Hymn of Faith of the PNCC, in Spanish, as recently approved for publication:

Himno de la Fe

A ti venimos Señor Dios
Antes de su Altar.
Conoces bien nuestras almas
La respuesta al suplicar.
Sáquenos de necesidad
Bendí­cenos, O Padre Bendí­cenos

Antes de la cruz, preparados pues,
Al servirle con devoción.
De Sangre y de Lágrimas
Una humilde resignación.
El pueblo suyo somos Señor
Sálvenos, O Dios Bendí­cenos.