The feature ‘How language problems bedevil the response to crises’ from The Economist stresses that in their response to crises, interpreters must work out quickly both linguistic and cultural differences to help vulnerable local people. In the struggle to communicate effectively, these type of difficult situations highlight the deficiencies of automated translation technology. Tools such as Google Translate have their benefits, of course, but when the subject matter is so culturally loaded, often dealing with taboos such as human intimacy and bodily functions, only a well-trained interpreter will do.