Challenges Encountered in Translation of Culture-bound and Subject-specific Terminology While Using Google Translate

This study explores the limitations and challenges of using Google Translate as a translation tool, particularly in academic, professional, and literary contexts. While Google Translate provides rapid, accessible translation, various linguistic, semantic, and contextual issues often compromise accuracy and meaning. Using qualitative analysis, we examined translated samples from English to various languages and vice versa. The findings highlight the shortcomings in grammar, idiomatic expression, cultural nuance, and subject-specific terminology, suggesting that Google Translate is best used as a supplemental tool rather than a replacement for human translators. Recommendations are provided for optimizing the use of Google Translate within academic and professional settings.