The three tools available on its Web site allow surfers to search the Internet in both English and Asian languages, translate Web pages, and compose e-mail messages in your own language and send them in another. EWGate founder Angela Wee admits her products have their limitations. Based on my experience, the decision might be to call a professional translator. In a translation that was confusing but at least funny, EWSurf mismatched the word private with the meaning of low-ranking soldier.
Homonyms give machine translators the most difficulty.
EWSurf misunderstood the name of the Japanese electronics giant Sony as a term of endearment for a male child, and missed the true meaning of an MP3 player. Two out of three e-mails on various subjects were at least comprehensible, if not eloquent. I'd be surprised if a Chinese factory would even respond to such an overture. If the original message is simple and unambiguous, EWGate can cope. Caixia Lu is a professional translator of English literature into Chinese at the University of Hawaii-Manoa in Honolulu.