The GMail labs folks have cooked up a new automatic translation feature: if you receive an email that’s not in your language, Google will propose an automated translation.
We’re all aware that computer translations aren’t accurate, but it is a still better than nothing, especially if you don’t speak (and/or read) a language at all.
If it is your intention to communicate with someone through this automated translation, we recommend to use simple language that can be easily translated by a computer (they typically aren’t very good with context or slang, but do well with word-for-word and simple stuff). Here’s how to make it work:
Simply enable “Message Translation” from the Labs tab under Settings, and when you receive an email in a language other than your own, Gmail will help you translate it into a language you can understand. In one click.