Why do people who clearly don't understand a language use an online translator& try to pretend they know it?

I see this all the time especially on facebook and here in the answers...someone who clearly doesn't understand what's being said in a conversation will go to a website and translate it (usually inaccurately) then come back to the conversation and type a response that's so poorly typed (tons of grammar and usage errors) then say they knew what the person was talking about , or in the case of yahoo answers type a translation that's totally inaccurate.



If they don't know the language why even bother trying to chime in?Why do people who clearly don't understand a language use an online translator%26amp; try to pretend they know it?
I can think of two possible reasons:

1. They are genuinely trying to be helpful. They clearly don't realise that, sooner or later, someone will come along who really does know the language, and can give an accurate answer. I think that it's a case of, "well, if nobody else has tried, at least I have."

2. They are just chasing points. That seems to be rather futile and juvenile to me, but, well, you know, that's how some people are! In a way, seeing their answer printed on the internet (for all the world to see) makes them feel just a tiny bit important. They make me think of people who write to a record request programme on the radio, and they say, "This is my third attempt at getting this record played", and a reasonable person might think, "Well, why bother? Is it so important?" But, that's human nature for you!
Bella,

1 gets kicked in the shin when one is helping +

1 gets kicked in the shin when one is not helping!

I am confident that I understood you perfectly - am disappointed by your closing remarks.

Report Abuse

Why do people who clearly don't understand a language use an online translator%26amp; try to pretend they know it?
Bella,

I like to add a bit of my own wisdom. People, who clearly don't understand, nor speak the foreign language, still like to be part of the Clever community, no matter where. Therefore, they rush to the nearest translator site and then proudly display their achievement. Humor them, they are not trying to do harm.



I am a German lady, residing in the US for 47 years already, BUT I was reprimanded by a "know-it-better" on the German Y.C. site....That person stated that I wasn't supposed to use the Google translator, blah, blah. That person felt with his/her limited school English that he/she was better equipped to translate the text.

What does one say to this? Nothing!Why do people who clearly don't understand a language use an online translator%26amp; try to pretend they know it?
You can use the Babylon Translator to translate this text. Use it to help you with the translation and meaning of words. This makes it easier to translate the text by yourself.

Download the Babylon in: http://babylon.sitedee.com/
They need the yahoo answers points!



Seriously, they are annoying!