Know why a translation reads oddly
Tell a clumsy translation from a message that was meant unkindly.
A translation is a machine matching patterns, not a person who understood. It gets the sense right and the manners wrong.
Sayings, jokes and politeness are where it slips. Those live in small words it drops.
Key points
- A translation matches patterns rather than following what was meant
- Sayings, jokes and politeness are where it slips
What to remember
- When English reads strangely, look at the original.
- Odd tone is nearly always the machine, not the person.
Try this
Translate an English saying into another language, then translate the answer back. See what survived.
Practice: Know why a translation reads oddly. Your first lesson is free, with no account or card; the rest are part of a Lantern plan. Interactive lessons require JavaScript.