Kannada: Google apologises for 'ugliest Indian language' search result

[OMB]

India's Karnataka state says it plans to send a legal notice to Google after it showed the state's official language as the "ugliest language in India".

A Google search with these keywords on Thursday showed Kannada as the top result.

On Thursday, the tech giant released a statement apologising for "the misunderstanding and hurting any sentiments".

It has fixed the search results following a massive outrage.

Many, including leaders from the southern Indian state, expressed their outrage at the search result on Thursday.

Karnataka minister Aravind Limbavali demanded an apology from the tech company saying that this was an attempt by Google to insult the pride of Kannadigas [Kannada speakers].


"The Kannada language has a history of its own, having come into existence as many as 2,500 years ago. It has been the pride of Kannadigas all through these two-and-a-half millennia," Mr Limbavali tweeted.

Home to the great Vijayanagara Empire, #Kannada language has a rich heritage, a glorious legacy and a unique culture. One of the world’s oldest languages Kannada had great scholars who wrote epics much before Geoffrey Chaucer was born in the 14th century. Apologise @GoogleIndia. pic.twitter.com/Xie927D0mf

— P C Mohan (@PCMohanMP) June 3, 2021
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In a statement issued on Twitter, Google said that the search feature wasn't always perfect, and that sometimes "the way content is described on the internet can yield surprising results to specific queries".

"We know this is not ideal, but we take swift corrective action when we are made aware of an issue and are continually working to improve our algorithms," the statement said.

"Naturally, these are not reflective of the opinions of Google, and we apologise for the misunderstanding and hurting any sentiments."

In a string of tweets, HD Kumaraswamy, former chief minister of the state, said "not just Kannada, no language is bad, adding that abuse against languages is painful".

"Is it impossible for Google to curb such hatred against any language?" he asked.

Google is one of the fastest growing tech firms in India and has expanded its presence in many Indian states and languages. It plans to further expand in India as mobile internet continues to reach even some of the remotest parts of the country.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57355011

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Not sure I follow. Google is just a search engine, they aren't the ones who are voting which language is the ugliest, why are they being harassed? I've heard similar mocking of Welsh or German languages, it's a bit mean, but why kick up such a fuss? It's all subjective, what sounds weird to foreigners might sound wonderful to locals and that's what matters.

 

[Itachi]

Not sure I follow. Google is just a search engine, they aren't the ones who are voting which language is the ugliest, why are they being harassed? I've heard similar mocking of Welsh or German languages, it's a bit mean, but why kick up such a fuss? It's all subjective, what sounds weird to foreigners might sound wonderful to locals and that's what matters.

Yes. wrong party is accused here.

Google probably have picked it up from somewhere. If it's really needed to be addressed (I don't think it should because every person have their own preference. I personally feel russian is the toughest language to learn in the world but for others it may vary), then those sites needs to be targeted and not Google.

 

[irfan]

so what is the 'ugliest' language in India? Surely it must be Indians describing it as such for Google to pick this up, doubt foreigners would be able to distinguish between various Indian languages.

 

[Itachi]

so what is the 'ugliest' language in India? Surely it must be Indians describing it as such for Google to pick this up, doubt foreigners would be able to distinguish between various Indian languages.

generally people doesn't like languages with hard sounds. People prefer softer sounds as it takes less effort to pronounce.

For example, tegalog, thai and bahasa has more words with hard sounds and a bit of prominent pronunciation from nose (especially thai and bahasa) so if given a list, people will be less attracted to those language.

 

[silentkiller187]

Algorithm picks up patterns, people in india must have associated the language with being ugly before for google to put the 2 together. wrong party being targeted.

 

[MenInG]

I have to admit, when I first that language I wasnt too enamored with it.

However, having spent a longish period of time around people who speak it, its fine - nothing special and certainly not ugly!

 

[street cricketer]

I have to admit, when I first that language I wasnt too enamored with it.

However, having spent a longish period of time around people who speak it, its fine - nothing special and certainly not ugly!

What language?

 

[street cricketer]

Sundar Pichai taking the Cauvery feud a little too serious

 

[RexRex]

Aesthetically, it is not a pleasant language to look at and it is a bit tough on the eardrum as well. Google got it right for once.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Sundar Pichai taking the Cauvery feud a little too serious

qotw comment.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Karnataka minister Aravind Limbavali demanded an apology from the tech company saying that this was an attempt by Google to insult the pride of Kannadigas [Kannada speakers].

Classic Indian response lol.

Could totally see a Tamilian minister saying the same verbatim had it been Tamil.

 

[MenInG]

What language?

Kannada

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

I have to admit, when I first that language I wasnt too enamored with it.

However, having spent a longish period of time around people who speak it, its fine - nothing special and certainly not ugly!

Well it's my second language every one here in my town speak Kannada .
Kannada is one of the oldest languages date back to Ganga dynasty in the 6th century AD.

 

[street cricketer]

Kannada

Wow it's amazing that as a Pakistani, you can identify Kannada when it's being spoken even if you don't necessarily understand it. For a long time, I couldn't make the distinction between Telugu and Kannada as even their scripts looked kinda similar to me and I'm a thorough bred south indian. Obviously now I can make the distinction, but I often used to get confused between the two languages in the past.

And I would never in a million years be able to make the distinction between Pashto, Sindhi or Balochi although I think I can kinda identify Punjabi when it's being spoken due to the distinct slang of the language. And Bengali also is a bit easy language to identify due to its distinct words.