[dalbasal]

Translation comes in a quality spectrum. On one end, you have simple semantic/word translators. As long as the original text is written simply, a user will be able to understand >50% of the meaning, whatever can be understood without sytax.

On the other end of the spectrum, translation is rewriting while trying to maintain the original tone, intent and other subtle aspects of meaning.

This is essentially writing and authorship, and not far from a Turing test.

In between, there's a lot of usefulness. Its very feasible to communicate via IM and a free translation service. It's possible to headline-read a paper.