How correct is Google Translator
Fluent Spanish speakers can tell the diff. when translator is used. Why is that?
8 Answers
It makes many errors. It's best to use it for words and short phrases.
These translators can be used as a tool to get you started if you have a few sentences or a paragraph to write. They are also somewhat useful to give you a general idea of what someone is saying in a foreign language if you have absolutely no idea what you are reading.
However, they are extremely limited because it is impossible to account for all of the strange expressions, idioms, etc. that are a part of any language.
If you only need to look up a word or two, the dictionary is the place you want to go. The translators are not all bad. Once in a great while they will translate something perfectly. But if you think you are going to fool someone who is fluent, that will never happen. 
On the whole, you should use MT (machine translation) only to translate from a language with which you are unfamiliar into your native language (or one that you know very well). Basically, MT saves you the trouble of looking up individual words in the dictionary. It can produce very poor translations (something that nobody would say) but, if you know the 'target' language you will recognize nonsense when you see it (and probably be able to make sense of it).
When doing translations in the other direction, however, you are at the mercy of the software. If it produces nonsense, you will probably not recognize it as such.
Going from English to Spanish, for example, it's rather like asking a (English speaking) buddy who has taken a single semester of Spanish how to translate something into Spanish. He might actually get it right but the odds are against it.
Use translators as helpers but never copy, paste and send directly what they give you.
It's better than most of the automatic translators, which is not saying much. They tend to range from bad to silly. I'd give it a C-, but I'd give most of the others an F.
It is ok when you want to find out the essence or some short phrases. But not with personal pronouns, it changes all the plot!
The problem with any translator is that when it comes to translate from English to Spanish you can not translate word by word. In Spanish theres tons of words that have more than one meaning so when you use translators the translation most of the time will not make sense or will just not be the right word to use. That's why Hispanic people will always know when you use a automatic translator the words that are use are not always the right ones. So my recommendation: use the translators as a reference.
I was too lazy and in too much of a hurry the other day and used the SD translation for a sentence , the indomitable Heidita sussed me out right off , she gave me a right telling off and dispatched me to the dummy dungeon, so no more direct translations for me, they are are a guide at best ,but not to be taken literally.
