THE POWER OF ONLINE TRANSLATION TOOLS

More and more people around the world are learning English and using online tools such as Google Translate to help express themselves. As a result, these online translation tools have the power to shape the future of the English language (and any other language).

For example, the Facebook conversation shown below, has been translated from Korean into English (using Google Translate). In the conversation, Jiyeoung and Jessica are complimenting Eun Jean on one of her Facebook photos. According to Google Translate, Eun Jean responds to these compliments, not by saying 'thank you', but 'grateful'. If a Korean (non English speaker) were to read this translation, they may assume it was correct/natural to use the word 'grateful' in this way. They, along with others, including people in the Korean media, might then start using the word 'grateful' instead of the word 'thanks', or 'thank you' (when communicating in English) and so normalize the use of the word when used in the above context.

Jiyeoung: Oh. Is gaudy Father party!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Eun Jean: /Being, or, without being anything. Sees to, is like that but without being real anything,

Jessica: Is right and a pictorial photograph and

Eun Jean: Grateful ~!!! ^^*