How to use and tricks of Google translate

Estimated read time 10 min read

what to use for

The translations that Google Translate performs using English as the target language (one of the most widely spoken in the world), for example, are the most reliable, which does not mean that they are perfect. Depending on the languages ​​you are working with, we run the risk of obtaining more or less literal translationswith the problem that this may entail.

The biggest advantage is the speed of the translations, instantaneous, and that almost always, even with literal translations, we will understand the meaning of the message in broad strokes. It is an ideal application for translate texts into our native language. Even if the translation is not of good quality, we will understand the message of the text. If we want to communicate with online stores in other countries, or going on vacation abroad, Translate’s results in response to our queries will continue to be of great help.

What not to use for – Disadvantages

Today it cannot be guaranteed that the translations of Google Translate, even being between widely used languages, will be 100% correct. Although for understand foreign language texts this does not affectwe must be very careful when we use the tool to write texts ourselves in an unknown language.

The redactions of informal textssuch as an e-mail or a WhatsApp message with friends, or a query to a health care establishment. hostelry If we are going to move to another country, they do not have to be a problem, the other party will make an effort to understand you and communication will be fluid. If you are going to use these machine translation services to legal documents or to communicate professionally with customers or suppliers You will be risking making mistakes that could cost you dearly depending on the type of document. In addition, the image you project with a poorly written text will be negative. The same if it is the translation of your Curriculum Vitae, for this type of case it is better to go to someone who speaks the language and confirms that the translation is correct.

translate web computer

web version

version for Desk it is more limited than mobile applications as we are going to see. Texts of up to 5000 characters or documents that we upload can be translated.

tricks

To translate text we have two windows, the left is the text to be translated. Before writing or pasting the text, you want to choose the option Detect language or, where appropriate, choose the source language for the translation if we do not want to receive incorrect translations or simply the same text in the native language. In the right window we will see the translation.

Normally, if you use it as a dictionary, you will type one or several words manually. The translator himself will offer you suggestions of words and translations at the bottom. The way to enter the text can be with the virtual writing, choosing a keyboard that you can click with the mouse, ideal for touch screens. This keyboard will be in Qwerty or Dvorak mode. The third way to be able to enter the text would be by choosing the tactile writing to write by hand with mouse or pencil.

documents

Another way, perhaps more comfortable, is upload a document to translate it. We are not always going to have the text integrated into a document, but when it is, you will get a much better result.

To translate a document you will have to click on explore computer, and with the file explorer search for the document to translate to upload it. when you press the button Translate A new window will open with the document you had initially uploaded, with the same design and structure, but translated into the chosen target language. Supported formats are: DOC, DOCX, ODF, PDF, PPT, PPTX, PS, RTF, TXT, XLS and XLSX. If you are a Mac user and use pages you will have to export the documents to one of the supported formats.

translate computer documents

mobile version

version of Google Translate on mobile apps develop the full potential of the service with several interesting options that you won’t find on your computer.

Conversation

The mode Conversation is real-time machine translation. It is very interesting to have more or less fluid conversations when you want to talk to someone who does not understand your language. In this translation mode, you will see that the screen is divided into two, one area for each language. There is transcribing what you both speak, in both languages.

At the bottom you have three buttons to choose the language in which you are going to speak. your native language, that of the other person or Both. In the latter case you can both talk and you can see both translations in real time. The proper functioning of this feature also depends on several factors such as the quality of the sound received by the device and its microphones, mobile data coverage, etc.

conversation with google translate on mobile

Photography

If you click on the camera icon, it will be activated and you will be able to translate any text that you have in physical format near you just by pointing the camera at it. It is also valid for making text translations on device screens. If you direct the camera towards the text you will see that it is automatically translated on the image itself, that is the way Snapshot.

If you click on Scan what you will achieve is to make a capture through the camera and you will be able to copy the complete or partial text in your clipboard to add it later where you want. The last option is to import, so you will add a photograph from your gallery so that Google Translate translates the texts it detects. The system is the same as in the previous case, you choose the text and it is copied to the clipboard.

camera mode in google translate

Handwriting and typing

It is the same system as in the Desktop version with the exception that you will not be able to upload documents from the mobile application. To enter the texts you can paste it from the clipboard, write it directly from the keyboard of your smartphone or tablet or click on the icon of the Ballpoint and write by hand the text you want to translate. You can also copy the received translation to add it where you need.

text translator on google mobile

If you click on the icon of the Microphone, the dictation mode will be activated. This form can be interpreted as the manual function of Talk mode. You can press the record button in front of the person who is speaking in another language and automatically both of you will have the message transcribed and translated into the language you want.

Tap to Translate

Tap to Translate or Press to translate is a new application of Google Translator for the mobile version available in the latest updates of the APP. This is an automatic pop-up that will appear in any application you are using and in which you have copied a text to the clipboard in a language other than the one you have installed on the device’s operating system. When the Google Translate icon appears in the upper right, just click on it to see the translation.

tap to translate from google for android

In that translation you can click on the speaker to hear how what they have written sounds to you both in the native language and in the translated one. However, the best way to take advantage of this new tool is with messaging applications (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) where you will have the button New Translation to write a direct response in our language and copy it directly into the chat. Translations in conversations with unknown languages ​​​​for you are much more fluid because you do not have to leave WhatsApp or Telegram to go to the Translator and return to the messaging APP. This option is only available for Android devices.

Google translator Google translator Google translator Google translator

Extension

In the Google Chrome extensions store you will find Google Translate. clicking on Add to Chrome You will have it installed in a matter of seconds. From there you will be able to browse web pages of any language, which will be automatically translated at the click of a button. If having to click the mouse is cumbersome, you can also activate the automatic translation option, in this way, every time you navigate through a page with texts in languages ​​other than those of your Chrome interface, those texts will be translated directly with the same structure and design on the website itself.

google chrome extension for translator

Also, if you are browsing a website edited in your language, you can also use this extension as a quick translator. Click on the icon on the top bar of extensions and enter the text to translate. You will also have options available to choose the languages ​​you want to use or the icon of the Microphone to listen to the translations in each language.

Available languages

Currently (June 2021) they are 109 supported languages with Google Translate, you can use the Google web language search engine to find out if a language is supported, although in all versions of the translator you can access the list.

Not all supported languages ​​are supported in the same way. That is, many of the supported languages accept all text input options: keyboard writing, pen/finger writing, speech, photos, or use it offline. The most widely spoken languages ​​in the world have compatibility with all forms of input, but there are also languages ​​that are not so popular worldwide that are 100% compatible, such as Bengali, Catalan, Czech, Slovak, Indonesian, Tamil or Vietnamese.

Contribute

The way to improve the quality of the tool’s translations is to user collaboration in addition to those in charge of the company, obviously.

Translate

Users have the option to help with translations of their fluent languages ​​in two ways. To do this, click on the icon. Contribute at the bottom and be identified with your Google account. The first option is translate phrases that the system proposes, is a good way to enrich the system’s database because you will translate specific words and expressions that the company does not yet have. Another way to collaborate is revising a series of translations already carried out that Google will offer you.

The automated system developed by Google is based on the use made by users every day to better learn the vocabulary and grammar of languages. However, the collaborations carried out by many of the users from the section Contribute they help speed up the learning process by achieving better quality translations in a shorter time.

languages ​​to contribute

Receive recognition and badges

The search engine will recognize your effort by helping Google Translate with the translations. will grant you insignia and you will level up based on your contributions. You can get the nomination of member Collaborator or be a member of club 100.

These types of awards and badges are based on the company’s points program. Just like collaborators on Google Maps through reviews, with Google Translate you will receive points for each collaboration you make. That is why it is important that you identify yourself with the correct Gmail account before making any contribution. As you earn points, the company will grant you different categories. Once you get enough points you will have access to various types of rewards. These are usually small physical prizes or the ability to access Google products and services in development or before they are released to the general public. A way to encourage users so that the tool is increasingly more precise and, in the process, all nations are more united, facilitating communication.

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