Why are electronic language translators so bad at their jobs?
The sentence "Go take a run." has some 1200 base meanings without any context. The word "set" has over 400 definitions. How the hell is a computer supposed to figure out exactly which one you mean when you input the words to be translated?
The Short Answer
The sentence "Go take a run." has some 1200 base meanings without any context. The word "set" has over 400 definitions. How the hell is a computer supposed to figure out exactly which one you mean when you input the words to be translated? On top of this, you've got grammar to consider. In English, we tend to put the subject first, then the verb, then the object. "It is a running dog." In German, they do subject, then object, then verb. "It is a dog running." Unless it has a subordinate clause. Tzozil is verb, then object, then subject. "Running dog is." You can't really expect even the most modern computer translation to be able to handle this at any reasonable level of accuracy. Perhaps in a few decades.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Subject, verb, object
This explanation focuses on subject, verb, object and spans 128 words across 10 sentences. At 78% above the average Science explanation (72 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “The sentence "Go take a run." has some 1200 base meanings without any context.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 10 connected points.
How This Compares in Science
Ranked #60 of 500 Science questions by answer depth (top 13%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why electronic language translators so bad at their jobs?
The sentence "Go take a run." has some 1200 base meanings without any context. The word "set" has over 400 definitions. How the hell is a computer supposed to figure out exactly which one you mean when you input the words to be translated? On top…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Science questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 128 words, ranked #60 of 500 Science questions by depth. The key concepts covered are subject, verb, object.
What approach does this answer take to explain electronic language translators so bad at their jobs?
The explanation uses root cause analysis across 128 words. It is categorized under Science and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.