In a poll by Brazilians, the tool, also known as Google Tradutor, outperformed the company’s well-known products and services, including Android and Google Maps.
Google Tradutor is one of Google’s most successful services in Brazil, being one of the company’s five most popular tools among users in the country. More than half (59%) of Brazilians utilize the platform for translations at least three times per week. Surprisingly, Google Translate shares user preferences with only Gmail, Chrome, YouTube, and the search service, leaving Android and Google Maps behind. The data is from a survey shared exclusively with a tech Giant on the occasion of Google’s 15th anniversary in Brazil, which was celebrated on June 20, 2020.
The world’s most famous translation resource was launched in 2006, offering translation between English and Arabic only. In the beginning, the service had some limitations and imprecise grammar. Over time, Translate gained new languages and tools, and today it is even capable of translating conversations in real time. Below, see seven curiosities about Google Translate.
1. Tradutor was launched in 2006 with only two languages
The Google translator came out in 2006 with only two supported languages and a few hundred users. At the time, the service only offered translation between English and Arabic. When it turned 10, the resource already supported 103 languages. Considering the different ways of translating from or to a given language, it is possible to carry out 10,506 different combinations. Today, Google no longer discloses the new languages added, referring to “more than 100” supported languages.
2. Brazil was once the country that most used Google Translate
Four and a half years ago, Google announced that Brazil was the country that used Translator the most in the world. The company did not reveal the complete list, stating only that Brazilians were at the top. At the time, 8% of the people who used the service were from the United States, which suggests that the share of users in Brazil accounted for an even greater value.
Today, Google claims that Brazil is among the top five countries for at least nine of the company’s services, such as Search, Android, Chrome, YouTube, Maps, Google Play, Photos, Drive, and Gmail.
3. How Google Translate identifies languages in five different ways
The tool used to only identify text, but now it can find content that can be translated in five different ways. In addition to typing, the user can write by hand on touch screens, as well as speak and send photos to translate the content, or simply point the cell phone at the environment and wait for the application to identify a text by itself.
4. Translator is available in several Google products
The Translator cannot only be used on the web or in the app for Android and iPhone (iOS) phones. Google already uses this feature in a number of its products, like Google Maps and the Android system. For example, you can already translate messages you receive on WhatsApp by using the floating menu that appears when you select a text. This means you don’t have to open the app.
5. Google Translate can help improve English pronunciation
Since last year, Translator has had a pronunciation feature that allows you to practice the correct way to say words in English. The feature is a step up from the audio that goes along with translations done on the web. This way, in addition to listening to the pronunciation, it is possible to repeat it out loud, send the sound to Google, and receive an evaluation response. To use it, you must have the search configured for English and search for “how to pronounce” followed by the desired term.
6. Translator has a feature to transcribe conversation in real-time
This year, Google released a real-time translation function ideal for conversations. The user can configure the interlocutor’s language, turn on voice capture to accompany the chat, and translate everything said into text. The application listens in Portuguese and shows the translation into another language. Then listen to the other language and translate it back. The function is activated on the “Transcript” button.
7. Google Translate is one of the five most used Google services in Brazil
Improvements over the years seem to have had an effect on Brazilians. According to research commissioned by Google and carried out by Kantar with 1,100 people from classes A, B, and C, more than half use the Translator regularly. Furthermore, around a third (32%) use the tool every day on the web or mobile.
Approximately 8 out of 10 Brazilians (78%) answered that they always remember Translator when they need to convert something from one language to another. Many (73%) consider that “life has improved a lot” using the tool to translate phrases, songs, or texts, while two-thirds (65%) think it makes it easier to communicate with other people who speak other languages.
Final thought
Google Translator is an amazing tool for breaching the language gap among internet users from around the world. It makes communication easier and fosters understanding because of its accuracy in translating from a particular language to any other language of your choice on the list.
Have you used Google Translator in Brazil before? Even if you’re not from the country mentioned, have you ever come across the translator tool by Google? What was your experience like? Feel free to let us know through the comment section below.
If you also find this content educational, do not hesitate to share it with your friends on social media.
Featured image credit: https://olhardigital.com.br/