Inexplicable Flaw in Google Translation [Updated]

Google Translation is considered to be a handy tool for those browsing websites with languages not known to them. However, this tool is also known for flaws that can be disastrous at times.

Unlike many other Google tools, Google Translation isn’t a community driven solution. It in fact analyses translations done by human and makes patterns to present best results to users. During this process of machine generated translations, Google Translation often comes up with inexplicable results that may also hurt feelings and beliefs.

One such flaw is pointed out by our friend Bilal Sarwari.

According to Mr. Sarwari, when you will try to Translate (سبحان اللة) from Arabic to Urdu Using Google Translation Tool, it will show translation as “Bhagwan”, a commonly used word for “god” in Hinduism. (Nauzubillah).

Below is screen for your review:

Google Translation

There is currently no way of reporting a word, and hence you can’t suggest correct translations to Google. However, there’s a button at the bottom through which you can rate the translation.

I understand that many users have already reported this translation as “Offensive”, while others are encouraged to go to this link and mark this translation as “offensive” as well.

Update (Jan 11th, 2013 – 03:15 AM)

Google has apparently fixed the issue. Google Translation is now showing following:

Google_Translation

Tech and telecom reporter for over 15 years


  • Although it’s wrong translation but it isn’t as big of “offensive”! Bhagwan in Hindi and Sanskrit means God. Just like God translates to Khuda in Urdu and Allah in Arabic. I think this correction is of merit before people start going after Google for blasphemy, again!

      • Qul huwa Allah hu ahad

        Allah hu ‘s-samad
        Lam yalid wa lam yulad

        Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad

        Say, “The truth is: Allah is One. Allah is Besought of all, needing
        none. He neither begot anyone, nor he was begotten. And equal to
        Him has never been any one.”

      • This has nothing to do with liberalism. But it has everything to do with linguistics. As Farhan said: Bhagavan is just a Hindi word, much as Khuda is Persian and Allah in Arabic.
        Not everything is a conspiracy against Islam, grow up ProPakistani! And stop with the misleading titles as well please.

    • Allah is a name while bagwan khuda god are used for the creater which have different meaning in different religions. our Khuda is Allah and subhan’Allah never mean bhagwan . it means All praises goes to Allah . oh yeah u are thankfull to me now cuz u atleast learnt the meaning of SubhanAllah.

  • Why do you say it is inexplicable? It is so strange that you say it is inexplicable and then go on to explain it :):):)

    Have you not seen the recent news about the ipad? From a website:

    To replicate this yourself, just head over to Google Translate and end a sentence with something like “end with,” “enraged with” or “filled with.”

    This was reported on January 3/4, and maybe fixed now but you can still search for “he now praises the iPad” and see it online.

    There is a known flaw in how google translate works (statistical analysis), and this is not news.

    • Can you blame them ? They’ll try to find blasphemy in everything they do, see, or feel. Now the question is, why would you need to translate subhan Allah from Arabic to Urdu in the first place, when they both are written in exactly the same manner.

      Nice way to make money and in the meantime, entice the crowd to go bonkers (mission accomplished).

      • Like the saying goes, if it bleeds, it leads. That’s how newspapers make money and of course web sites are no different.

    • Exactly the point I made in an earlier post: “… and [ProPakistani] stop with the misleading titles as well please.”

  • They have done wrong translation. that’s probably in Hindi language. Bhagwan is same is GOD in English.

    • please see the screenshot. and read carefully the meaning of “pakistan” (http://awesomescreenshot.com/0… )…. and tell me is Islam remains without BLASPHEMY?….. you are talking about pro pakistani.. which mean take care of Islam and pakistan…. ohhhh man.. Why people do not think before talking…

  • i zoomed out the pic and see the result

    subah ALLAH sahi se likho to sahi show karta hai and google ne mention kiya hai k ye abi alpha language hai aur ye just preview hai

    aur ue image b chak kar lo ap sab log

    • Asim you are right. The author of this post hasn’t written Allah correctly in Google translate.

    • Asim You need “Arabic Keyboard” for this, As I mentioned in post, this issue is with “Arabic to Urdu Translation”, In Second line you write SubhanAllah in Urdu, If you dont have Arabic Language installed in your system, Select Virtual Keyword option from Google Translation and test it yourself

    • You are wrong bro see image below. Please note that Urdu translation is in Alpha stage so error are expected but we should report this issue to Google ASAP.

  • Itni takleef hai with this then please develop your own translation engines…. Baatein kerwa lo, commentary ker lo… haath say kuch nahee kerna

    • دنیا میں جو چیز کوئی بنائے تو اسے اس کو ٹھیک بھی کرنا پڑےگا۔ کیا صرف مسلمانوں کی یہ ذمہ داری ہے کہ وہ دوسروں کے مذاہب کا احترام کریں گے؟ کیا ان خبیثوں (اور تم جیسے خبیث) کو اتنی بات بھی سمجھ نہیں آتی۔ انہوں نے تو اپنی غلطی کی اصلاح کرلی۔ لیکن تم جیسے کی نیت بھی سامنے آجاتی ہے اس طرح کے واقعات سے۔

    • sahi fermaya bhai jan…. ager koi apni shop k banner per apko ulta seedha likhay.. to gussa nahi kerna chahiay.. balkay apni shop per banner laga ker apni tareef kerni chahiay.. dosray ko kuch nahi kehna chahiay…… apko bat bohot gehrai rakhti ha…. :)

    • LOL lets ban Google! Its haram! :D
      btw what should we burn? A cinema, a fast food restaurant, a bank, a car or a bike? :D

  • Are you serious, Aamir? The software is ALPHA stage. Do you know what ALPHA means? It means there are serious flaws. Secondly, only subhan is translated as ‘Bhagwan’.

  • I request Propakistani to kindly delete this post as it will only create debate with no benefit.

    We only have to remember what the Holy Qura’n says:

    Qul huwa Allah hu ahad
    Allah hu ‘s-samad
    Lam yalid wa lam yulad
    Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad

    Say, “The truth is: Allah is One. Allah is Besought of all, needing
    none. He neither begot anyone, nor he was begotten. And equal to
    Him has never been any one.”

  • Currently it shows correct translation, Please use the link mentioned and see it your self before making any comments

  • It seems that our GREAT nation will forever remain stuck in BLASPHEMY .
    I never expected a site like PROPAKISTANI to get involved in such affairs.

    • please see the screenshot. and read carefully the meaning of “pakistan” ( http://awesomescreenshot.com/036sjzmb9 )…. and tell me is Islam remains without BLASPHEMY?….. you are talking about pro pakistani.. which mean take care of Islam and pakistan…. ohhhh man.. Why people do not think before talking…

  • For us Khuda means Allah, but where it is written you can not call Khuda with different names like Maalik, Raziq, etc…. but all these words are in arabic, its just that urdu is made of different language in which arabic is also prominent. further more Holy Quran is also written in arabic so you can refer to these words easily.

    on the other hand Baghwan and Prabhu is hindi or sanskrit word for Khuda, it doesnot refer to any particular hinduism god for it they have names to be specify a particular character. so being in that part of the world refering God as Baghwan should not be Inexplicable.

    so please don’t make it an issue, we have so much already created by politician and islamic clerics mostly on regional and sectarian basis. the only thing which is a flaw is its translation, as SubhanAllah means all praise to God.

  • It is wrong interpreted by Admin here. Go and check yourself before commenting and accusing it…

  • گوگل والوں نے اسے اب بھی ٹھیک نہیں کیا ہے۔ جب “سبحان اللہ” لکھو تو “بھگوان” ہی کا ترجمہ ہوتاہے۔ یہ ہندوؤں کی کارستانی ہے۔ کیوں کہ گوگل ایک لفظ کا وہی ترجمہ کرتا ہے جسے ان پٹ کےطور پر دیا گیاہو۔

    • Instead of wasting your energies here. I’d suggest reporting this issue to Google. No point in arguing.

      If they still don’t fix it up. Then switch to another engine. Is it really so hard to do that ????

  • After reading some really crazy comments i think in near future our youth will be throwing bricks in the Masjids. Enemies successful in brainwashing them and they are crazy towards temporary “Freedom modern life”


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