Google Translate now ‘speaks’ Filipino

Jul	06
2009

Google Translate now ‘speaks’ Filipino

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/27/2008 2:14 PM

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Popular search engine Google launched today its local translation tools of 34 languages to and from the Filipino language.

Google Translate™ is the search engine's first free translation service that includes Southeast Asia's native languages, including Filipino.

The full suite of translation tools are available at http://translate.google.com.ph.

This service would allow Filipino-speaking users all over the world to find and view text phrases or specific webpages in foreign languages and translate these to Filipino. They can also use Filipino keywords to search for webpages that are published in 34 languages and have the results automatically translated back into the Filipino language.

In addition, Google is making available a translation website gadget that Filipino-language website owners can use to have their webpages instantly appear in up to 34 other languages.

“Today’s launch of Google Translate in Filipino language makes it easier for millions of Filipino-speaking Internet users all over the world to search and access much more web content in their own local language,” said Derek Callow, Marketing Manager, Google Southeast Asia.

Google Translate also allows Internet users to contribute to and edit translations to and from the Filipino language. When users come across an inaccurate translation, the tool allows them to suggest a better translation than the machine translation, Callow said.

The service will primarily benefit overseas Filipino workers who struggle with languages written in their host countries, and businessmen who wish to improve their understanding of their local business partners.

Even students working on an assignment, say Spanish history, would likely benefit when information sourced from the web, which are likely to be western perspectives of Spanish history and culture written in Spanish language, could then translatedinto English or Filipino.