Periodically, a customer that I deal with will suggest that they would like to expand globally and have their website translated to another language. Typically, I think this is a great idea and point them in the direction of services for such translation. When they opt for machine translation*, I usually try to simply tell them 'no'.
Usually, they want machine translated text posted to their website, and sometimes have a program written to tranlate their articles on-the-fly.
I've seen many instances in which someone will translate some english into a different language, see it, then automatically assume the text is correct. Even though they aren't speakers of the language (hence the machine translation in the first place), they assume that their text is grammatically correct and that the words that have multiple meanings in the text have been correctly translated to the context that makes the most sense. I will translate this paragraph to Russian and back for a example of the quality that you will find in automatic translation software.
To Russian an back to English:
I saw many examples in someone it will transfer certain English into differently the language, I see it, I automatically assume text correctly after this. Even if they not are govoryashchiya in the native language of the language (consequently machine transfer in the first place), they assume their text grammatical correctly and that the noun which have plural be able to reason in the text correct to be transferred to the sense which makes majorities a feeling. I will transfer this paragraph to the Russian and tail end for an example of quality you will find in the means of programming mashinnyya transfer.
Using automated translation will almost always make you look very unprofessional, but sometimes it can cross new boundaries with the embarrassment: I've also seen an instance in which someone tried translated some text from spanish and translated not the phrase Quince Años but Quince Anos. Many people argue that some software is better than others, which is true, but none is perfect. If you are trying to get a simple though across and don't mind sounding like a spammer, use the software. If you want to sound professional, you will definitely need professional translation services.
*when I use the phrase "machine translation" I am referring to sites such as Google, Babelfish and software such as SYSTRAN.
