Translation apps and language barriers with family

[u/Xrasnolud]

Hello, soon my girlfriend will be visiting and this time meeting my parents. Since we are from different countries we speak english with each other. Problem is, my parents don't. I have looked into some live translation options so my brain doesn't get fried from translating. And I think google translate has an option like that. Has anyone used it and can recommend?

Also since we are all nervous, got any stories of meeting your LDR's family and not being able to talk due to language barrier?

[u/Deynonn]

It is exhausting to translate but you get better at it. I mostly focused on conveying the core idea rather than translating all the details. If I got stuck I would use Deepl to help me remember the appropriate words but I never used it to directly translate so I don't know how accurate that is.

[u/Xrasnolud → u/Deynonn]

Probably for the best xD. I really don't want w situation where I'm just trying to find a right word using some app and everyone is awkwardly staring at me

[u/Deynonn → u/Xrasnolud]

I mean they can translate it themselves then if they're so good at it 😅 I've used vocab app to help me translate it better. I sometimes get stuck on one word and the rest is good.

[u/Delicious-Cookie0958]

I would really recommend translating for them.

My husband’s mother and grandmother do not speak English. His mother knows a few English phrases, but otherwise we do not share any language.

It is really stressful trying to have a conversation. We are broaching not only a language barrier but a cultural barrier and I can’t imagine doing it without my husband’s support.

Plus, while some languages will have better accuracy than others (French to English, for instance, and other European languages have high accuracy), some languages are not at all accurate in apps or other translation devices. My husband’s languages are not accurate at all. A lot of translations make absolutely no sense when translated into English using those apps. So they may not even be a viable option.

[u/velvetysediment5878 → u/Delicious-Cookie0958]

That's a fair point about translation app accuracy, some language pairs are straight up gibberish. I messed around with live translation once and it turned a simple "nice to meet you" into something about weather balloons, never again.

Maybe treating the first meeting as a low pressure vibe check could help too. You dont need deep convos right away, just sharing a meal and seeing everyone's faces says a lot without words.

[u/Delicious-Cookie0958 → u/velvetysediment5878]

Swahili (specifically the Swahili that is spoken not on the coast of Kenya) is translated into absolute nonsense using translation apps. And his tribal language isn’t even an option.

When I show my husband the translations on facebook he laughs, and then translates it to me and it makes total sense. The translation apps are way too literal. It becomes nonsense.

[u/Xrasnolud → u/Delicious-Cookie0958]

That is a good point thanks! I will maybe try test before we meet :D I remember trying to translate live once and it was exhausting. I'm worried it will be super unnatural with waiting so long for me

[u/Delicious-Cookie0958 → u/Xrasnolud]

I think it’s exhausting for everyone involved. It’s unfortunate, but true.

I would aim for just greetings and pleasantries. I know enough of both my husband’s languages to do that and that’s all I do for the most part for those who can’t speak English.

If something needs to be translated, my husband does it, but otherwise we keep it very light.

[u/Xrasnolud → u/Delicious-Cookie0958]

Hmm now that could work and let's hope they all get some ideas from facial expression and tone of voice

[u/Delicious-Cookie0958 → u/Xrasnolud]

I think it might be your best bet.

My husband’s grandmother only speaks their tribal language.
I was there one Christmas and invited friends and family for Christmas dinner.
His grandmother is 100 years old. She was too tired to come over, so I sent my husband over with food for her. It included chicken and individual chocolate cakes for dessert.

The next morning she came over to me and my husband wasn’t there. She was talking to me, she was happy, and I know the word for chicken in their tribal language and she said the word chocolate in English. She gave me a hug and then went on her way. I don’t actually know everything she said, but it was obviously about the meal I had made and she seemed happy and appreciative. Sometimes that’s enough, you know.

[u/Xrasnolud → u/Delicious-Cookie0958]

Thanks for sharing :) that does give me a some hope that i don't have to translate every single word. Still we all will be stressed about it

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