Slashdot Mirror


Skype Translate Reportedly Has a Swearing Problem In Chinese

An anonymous reader writes: Skype Translate was supposed to be Microsoft's attempt at the "Star Trek" universal translator, offering real-time voice and text translation. It launched with one of the most challenging of languages, Chinese. And apparently, thanks to the Great Firewall, it has its problems. An American expat using it in China reports: "A glitch in the beta software misinterpreted the words I spoke. 'It's nice to talk to you' was translated as 'It's f*cking nice to f*ck you,' and other synthesized profanity, like the icebox robot in 1970's sci-fi flick Logan's Run, but with Tourette Syndrome. It was quite funny to me - I couldn't help but laugh during repeated takes, to Yan's exasperation - but the tech team were none too happy about it as they worked late into the night."

1 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory by the_Bionic_lemming · · Score: 5, Funny

    ROLLER CAPTION: IN 1970, THE BRITISH EMPIRE LAY IN RUINS, FOREIGN NATIONALS FREQUENTED THE STREETS - MANY OF THEM HUNGARIANS (NOT THE STREETS - THE FOREIGN NATIONALS). ANYWAY, MANY OF THESE HUNGARIANS WENT INTO TOBACCONIST'S SHOPS TO BUY CIGARETTES...
    Enter Hungarian gentleman with phrase book. He is looking for the right phrase.
    Hungarian I will not buy this record, it is scratched.
    Tobacconist Sorry?
    Hungarian I will not buy this record, it is scratched.
    Tobacconist No, no, no.This ... tobacconist's.
    Hungarian Ah! I will not buy this tobacconist's, it is scratched.
    Tobacconist No, no, no ...tobacco...er, cigarettes?
    Hungarian Yes, cigarettes. My hovercraft is full of eels.
    Tobacconist What?
    Hungarian (miming matches) My hovercraft is full of eels.
    Tobacconist Matches, matches? (showing some)
    Hungarian Yah, yah. (he takes cigarettes and matches and pulls out loose change; he consults his book) Er, do you want ... do you want to come back to my place, bouncy bouncy?
    Tobacconist I don't think you're using that right.
    Hungarian You great pouf.
    Tobacconist That'll be six and six, please.
    Hungarian If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me? I am no longer infected.
    Tobacconist (miming that he wants to see the book; he takes the book) It costs six and six ...(mumbling as he searches) Costs six and six ... Here we are ... Yandelvayasna grldenwi stravenka.
            Hungarian hits him between the eyes. Policeman walking along the street suddenly stops and puts his hand to his ear. He starts running down the street, round corner and down another street, round yet another corner and down another street into the shop
    Policeman What's going on here then?
    Hungarian (opening book and pointing at tobacconist) You have beautiful thighs.
    Policeman What?
    Tobacconist He hit me.
    Hungarian Drop your panties, Sir William, I cannot wait till lunchtime.
    Policeman Right! (grabs him and drags him out)
    Hungarian My nipples explode with delight.

    --
    _ _ _ Go for the eyes Boo! GO FOR THE EYES!