Why Computers Suck At Translation

Machine translation's a useful tool, don't get me wrong. But if you actually try to use it for regular conversation, it'll fall down really quickly. Why? What makes it so difficult? Written with GRETCHEN MCCULLOCH: http://gretchenmcculloch.com - http://twitter.com/GretchenAMcC [Update: her book BECAUSE INTERNET is out July 2019! https://gretchenmcculloch.com/book/ ] More from Gretchen at ALL THINGS LINGUISTIC: http://allthingslinguistic.com - http://twitter.com/AllThingsLing BONUS LINK: How do you translate nonsense words? http://allthingslinguistic.com/post/64517588622/jabberwocky-how-do-you-translate-a-word-that Directed by MATT GRAY: http://mattg.co.uk - http://twitter.com/unnamedculprit And more from me: http://tomscott.com - http://twitter.com/tomscott