Why Computers Suck At Translation

Machine translation's a useful tool, don't get me wrong. But if you actually try to use it for regular conversation, it'll fall down really quickly. Why? What makes it so difficult?

Written with GRETCHEN MCCULLOCH: http://gretchenmcculloch.com -   / gretchenamcc  
[Update: her book BECAUSE INTERNET is out July 2019! https://gretchenmcculloch.com/book/ ]
More from Gretchen at ALL THINGS LINGUISTIC: http://allthingslinguistic.com -   / allthingsling  

BONUS LINK: How do you translate nonsense words? http://allthingslinguistic.com/post/6...

Directed by MATT GRAY: http://mattg.co.uk -   / unnamedculprit  

And more from me: http://tomscott.com -   / tomscott