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[Resolved] AI (beta) translations does not write formal sentences

This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem:
The client is experiencing an issue where the WPML AI (beta) translation tool does not use the formal Dutch pronouns 'u' despite selecting the 'Formal' text setting. Instead, it uses informal pronouns 'je' and 'jij'.
Solution:
We have confirmed that the formality option in the WPML Translation Tool Tab is correctly set. The discrepancy you noticed in the WPML → Settings will be aligned in the upcoming WPML 4.7 release with the 'auto-formality' feature. Currently, our AI does not support manual formality selection and applies the most commonly used formality automatically. This approach helps avoid inconsistencies in translation quality across different languages. For now, if you need formal Dutch translations, we recommend using DeepL and setting it to formal. We are continuously working on improving the WPML AI, and your feedback is crucial for these enhancements.

Please note that this solution might be outdated or not applicable to your specific case. We highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If the issue persists, please open a new support ticket.

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This topic contains 2 replies, has 0 voices.

Last updated by Marcel 2 weeks ago.

Assisted by: Marcel.

Author Posts
January 9, 2025 at 8:49 pm #16579844

alfredG-2

Background of the issue:
I am trying to translate several pages of my website with the automatic AI (beta) translation and I have chosen the 'Formal' text setting. However, with English to Dutch, the translation of 'you' becomes 'je' and 'jij' instead of the more formal 'u'. This issue can be seen on the page: hidden link

Symptoms:
The translation uses informal Dutch pronouns 'je' and 'jij' instead of the formal 'u', despite selecting the 'Formal' text setting.

Questions:
Why does the AI (beta) translation not use formal pronouns in Dutch?
How can I ensure the translation uses 'u' instead of 'je' and 'jij'?
January 14, 2025 at 5:18 pm #16594257

Marcel
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) German (Deutsch )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)

Hi there,

Please accept my apologies for the delayed response. It seems this ticket was overlooked due to an issue with the ticket status.

I've reviewed your case and identified a UI issue in the "Translation Tools" tab. The formality controls should not be displayed there, as our new WPML AI engine automatically manages formality settings. You can see the correct behavior reflected in WPML -> Settings. I've escalated this to our developers to ensure the UI controls are removed from the "Translation Tools" tab to align with the settings page.

However, this still doesn't fully address the issue of why the formality adjustment wasn't applied correctly. We're continuing to investigate this part further.

Best regards,
Marcel

Screenshot 2025-01-14 at 5.24.58 PM.png
January 15, 2025 at 4:50 pm #16598411

Marcel
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) German (Deutsch )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)

Hi,

to correct, the formality option in the WPML Translation Tool Tab is correct as it stands. The issue you mentioned appears on the screen under WPML → Settings in version 4.6.15. This has been corrected in the upcoming WPML 4.7 release, where the UI will show the same option as the Translation Tools Tab — specifically "auto-formality."

Regarding translation quality, please note that WPML AI is still in beta, and it currently doesn't offer manual formality selection. The AI automatically applies the most commonly used formality based on the specific language.

Our tests across various languages showed that offering different formality levels often led to mixed and unreliable translations. To avoid this inconsistency, we’ve temporarily opted for a standardized approach. However, we’re continuously improving the system, and once LLMs can handle formality settings reliably across languages, this feature will be prioritized.

That said, as an alternative, you can always use DeepL. You can set it to formal and translate to Dutch from there to achieve the formality you’re aiming for.

Your feedback is extremely valuable, especially since you are the first user to report this specific issue. It helps us identify real-world cases where the engine behaves differently than expected, enabling us to improve it further. We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to enhance WPML AI.

Best regards,
Marcel