Translate typed answers into one language
Get a machine draft of every typed answer in one working language, then review and approve it in Results.
On a survey in more than one language, respondents type answers in their own language. Pick a working language and each typed answer gets a draft translation for a reviewer to correct and approve. Approved translations show under the answer in Responses and in the Expanded export.
Before you start
The survey needs at least two languages. Add one in the editor’s language menu first; see Translate a survey into other languages.
Steps
Choose a working language
Open the survey’s Settings and find Survey language. Under Translate typed answers, pick the Working language your team reads. The setting appears once the survey has a second language; choose Off to stop translating.Decide whether a reviewer must approve
Require a reviewer is on by default: only approved translations show in results and exports. Turn it off to show machine drafts before anyone reviews them, marked Machine translation, not reviewed.Review the drafts
In Results, open Tools → Translations. To review lists drafts waiting for a reviewer, with the original answer beside the translation. Correct the wording if needed, then click Approve. Approved lists finished ones with who reviewed them and when.Read and export the translations
Open a response in Responses to see each translation under the answer. In Export, choose the Expanded layout: CSV and Excel files get two extra columns, Answer Translation and Answer Translation Status.
Details and limitations
Short-text and long-text answers are translated, and the text typed into a choice question’s Other option. Answers already in the working language are left as they are.
Drafts are made after a response is completed, usually within a few minutes. Only responses changed in the last 30 days are picked up, so answers that were already older than that when you chose a working language are not translated, and there is no way yet to queue them. In Translations, Translate now appears on a row whose draft failed or whose answer was edited after its draft was made.
A draft whose numbers differ from the original is flagged with Check the numbers. Compare amounts, dates, and counts with the original before you approve.
Approving records who approved and when, and needs edit access to the survey. It never changes the respondent’s original answer.
This translates what respondents typed. To translate your questions for respondents, see Translate a survey into other languages.
Check the result
Typed answers in other languages have translations in your working language, approved by a reviewer, in Responses and in the Expanded export.
If something goes wrong
If Translate typed answers is missing from Settings, add a second language to the survey. If Translations says typed answers are not translated, choose a working language in Settings. If a row shows No machine draft, no AI model is allowed for this survey, so type the translation yourself. If a draft failed, click Translate now to try again.