What's your funniest Google Voice transcription flub?
Earlier this week, I bashed Google's visual voice mail service for its inability to transcribe my voice messages into understandable English. (OK, most of the article really focuses on a new flexibility in Google Voice, which I do like.) To be fair, poor transcription isn't all Google's fault. They're offering a free service based on a computer-aided technology that improves each year. The real problem is that machine transcription just isn't good enough.
Up until yesterday, I hadn't received more than a handful of visual voice mail message translations imbued with any meaning in my native tongue. In fact, I turned off SMS forwarding because I couldn't handle the streams of nonsensical texts that would pour in for each voice mail left. Thankfully, I won't miss the yucks stemming from mismatched voice-to-text at all, not when I can still read the messages in my online Google Voice in-box over and over again.
Do you have any favorite mistranslations produced by free computer-aided transcription engines? Share yours in the comments--or better yet, e-mail me if you'd like to take place in our anonymous gallery--and I'll share three errata from my in-box below.
The longer the message, the more creative the transcription.
(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)
Despite its brevity, the only accurate word in this transcription is "hello."
(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)
That's right! You go and procure the message, people!
(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)
Jessica Dolcourt reviews the latest and greatest smartphone apps, in addition to a healthy dose of Windows software. E-mail Jessica and follow her on Twitter. 
Translation: hello
1) "Hello or not. Namaste, Hello. Just on my vehicle. Okay Mike, Hey hey."
2) "May I. What I. I did see at the hotel. Safe. What that'll bring these people make the see it 16 C C. It's a little states what the rent a single going to see if they didn't say are you."
3) "Hi Jesse. Jesse give. Although that 19 out point straight to voicemail. The only paid are so grateful that anyway. Practically bye."
Now, to be fair the first two were voicemails in spanish, but not the 3rd one.... I couldn't stop laughing after reading each of these.
Gadwin PrintScreen is a good, free screenshot app if Windows users need to install one: http://download.cnet.com/Gadwin-PrintScreen/3000-2094_4-10123018.html
Hey Bethany and I are flakes hi and it is floods property today you a call and when you called you a text that and you talked with Engineer, ohh my god. That is amazing that Solutions Group called. He got one more interview with Cisco. So that's really exciting engineering is okay. I hope you're not coming back and that sucks. I have some time. Nice another today, nice hot and warm and it's only I was just so excited tonight and has to be what else doing really really nice Monday. I got so excited. Anyways, just calling to you know. Say hello and this job. I like man that I know you're really busy with school and classes and stuff. So google problem, you can talk sometime later that night Mabel's whenever the hard, got a couple of months ago. Nice again because then I have a meeting at 1 o'clock. I've to be at work, they will give her a nice day to so I don't know what sort of thing. Sorry I have to talk to going. I'll talk to you and I. Congratulations once again. Dan height.
Hello, this is Xxxx your mail order pharmacy service calling for Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx we want to let you know that your recent prescription order is currently being processed and is scheduled to be shipped on you sober 30th. You, 2009. . We are working quickly to complete your order you and make sure you have your prescriptions when you need them year is nothing else you need to do. Yank you for your time in for using XXXXX by mail. Yeah. Have a good day. Provide you.
"Should wanted. I'll. Otherwise, I'm gonna be going to be. That'll my. "
"Pretty good Lord to come to the proposal."
But I guess I have to turn to religion because:
"Seven months and if you had a friend of course, and i'm with them up on a couple of days, even if you got a day. Give us a call. Thanks bye bye the pavilion we get to go to."
Hey this is Jim. We're having a meeting. We need you in so gimme a holler on the cellphone or xxxx. Real. Alright so I never really going.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07OE7jvl02M&feature=related
I. It's 12:30. I know you all my dick on the church and then the eat just want to say hi dad woke up with a bad throw. Vincent congestion rental low temperature this morning so we didn't go to church. He's taken over the counter medicine and hopefully resting on the okay for in anyway just want to say hi to you and we all get back to us whenever you can. Love you bye.
Hello Hey delivery. My name is Kate way, my number is [phone number removed] I'm calling about your ad you had on craigslist. If you sexy. What are you trying to sale okay. Once again, my name is Kay suang. My number's [phone number removed]. Thank you and.
1. Hey honey, Hey, Wanted to tell you what my idealize Muncy has just followed by any means, but I was thinking for the car. I just can't get into percent. Once again I don't. I don't know if I don't know if I can go from there once before, but I was just finished a 25 dollar wash deal with a clean everything inside for you now and then they don't holster okay or the seat. I need a contract, but you know. Washington down the it's not good. Hey Craig and then if it's still select mould bike, and otherwise call molds trying to see if you wanna drive. The notice super cheap could give me the i don't think you're monitors that much and I do some old stuff. I'm crap it's before I come from all this is Paul anymore so you may pick up and you never docs or whatever, but call me and and I'm sorry. My, my communication skills to tell you that i really wanna do something and then when you do it. Even i still some of that. I probably should. Thank you and your very essence and I call you don't like you want to go to, and this terrible expectations goes. But I have. Well call me when you get a chance, I'd like to talk. I love you bye.
2. Hey honey, it's me at 831 and I wanted to hi back. Well I can fax it back because I'm driving like residence work late and I went fine. Everybody seems a little side like not ready to go back to me. I don't answer that was the weekend of whatever little latkas sent me, so I'm gonna go grab swimming very slow. It's very, very, especially good and use reference. I was very, very sexy. Well, i'm, and you know. Divensinville it's much better. The today. Anyway, I'm at the vendors back. Obviously until. This teacher Hi Nancy, My name is answer right and then when you get any taxes name off the board of to trace it and then put it, and I like inbox with your there. I think I'll be right. I was just. Anyway, call me later. I love you 9.
3. Hey honey, I'm sorry. I wanna ask you where you can see a are you. I'm sorry I cannot get something out and the other my ass or no one has happened or from L. A. Because I don't see them anywhere. Cos I even carry them here, little about it was great. Call me if you get a chance. Love you bye.
*guffaws*
"Yes, Hi. My name is Christina, I'm calling about your mommy. I was seeing if it's still available. Please call me at ##########, text me at the same thing. Same number. Alright. Thank you."
The only one that worked:
"Check check 12 check. 12. Sibilance. Sibilance."
"I was on that Scott C. V. S at the floor and then hey, it's me. I was just wondering if I got with that. Yeah, Hi. Q. Love, plus any at the root system, P, P. A. Collect she foot see, Hi. My name is John that you could let me know number okay."
Pretty sure that's an inaccurate translation too. :)
- by Carrick1973 October 30, 2009 6:59 AM PDT
- "This is charge so you have been here for you on the powerhouses on your what's your side for sale by the garage. All the one that's going on. It just load mailbox. Bye."
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
Showing 1 of 3 pages (51 Comments)