14 DAY TRIAL // Google Translate has always been a useful web tool because it allowed users to translate texts and websites with a single click. Moreover, just like most other Google services, it was available for free. However, Google Translate only provided a number of 26 language pairs because it only allowed users to translate texts to and from English, German, Spanish, French and a few others. Today, Google rolled out a major update to Google Translate, implemented several new languages which brings the total number of language pairs to 253, according to blogger Ionut Alex Chitu.
The Google Translate FAQ has not been updated though, so it still provides information concerning the old languages available in the service. However, Google informs that the company is "working to support other languages and will introduce them as soon as the automatic translation meets our standards. It's difficult to project how long this will take, as the problem is complex and each language presents its own unique challenges."
As expected, the translation is not 100 percent accurate but, just like in the past, users have the possibility to "Suggest a better translation" in order to help the Mountain View-based company provide better translations.
Besides the main "Text and Web" translation function, Google has also added the new languages to the "Translated Search" feature so you're now able to search the web in your own language with a few mouse clicks. However, the Google dictionary which could be used for translating a single word still provides the oldest languages but let's hope the company will add the new ones soon.
It's interesting to note that Google uses its own translation system, in comparison with other similar services which adopted SYSTRAN. And more important, Google is continuously working on it, which underlines the fact that Google Translate will probably get better anytime soon.