Google Search & Display
Google uses different algorithms for different languages
Google “mostly” uses the same search algorithms for every language, but there are some algorithms that are only used in certain languages. Google uses the same search algorithms for most languages, but there are certain cases where a language requires a different algorithm to interpret queries.
This was stated by Google ‘s John Muller in response to the question: “Does Google use the same algorithm for every language?”
The question goes on to talk about ranking factors and SEO practices and how they can differ from one language to another.
More specifically, the question is:
“The BERT update had to do with semantics, so it made me wonder if it would be the same in every language.” Which then got me thinking about other ranking factors and how their importance may differ between different languages/cultures. Anyway, I want to ask anyone with SEO experience in another language, have you found any differences between the ranking factors?”
Mueller does not touch on the ranking factor aspect, but does address the use of search algorithms in different languages.
Read his full response in the section below.
How Google’s search algorithm differs by language
Although many call the Google search algorithm a single entity, it is really made up of “lots and lots” of algorithms.
Some of these algorithms are used for searches in all languages, while some are used only for individual languages.
Mueller says, for example, that some languages don’t separate words with spaces. Therefore, it is necessary to use a different algorithm than the one used by Google for languages that use spaces.
“Mostly. Search uses lots and lots of algorithms. Some of them apply to content in all languages, some of them are specific to individual languages (for example, some languages don’t use spaces to separate words — which would make it harder to search if Google assumed all languages were similar to English).”
How Google Search understands content in different languages
Regarding Google searches in different languages, it’s worth noting a question that was raised during Google Search Central SEO last week.
Mueller was asked how Google determines when one page is similar to another when each page has content in a different language.
In short, Google cannot detect when a piece of content in one language is the same or similar to a piece of content written in another language.
Google relies on content publishers to identify that multiple pieces of content are equivalent when written in different languages.
This is accomplished using the h reflang HTML attribute, Mueller explains:
“… we basically use hreflang to understand which of these URLs are equivalent from your point of view.
… I think it is impossible for us to understand that this specific content is equivalent for another country or another language. For example, there are so many local differences that are always possible.”
Knowing that Google cannot determine content equivalence of different languages on its own sheds more light on why Google has certain algorithms for certain languages.
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Sources: Searchenginejournal
Made by Nebojša Radovanović – SEO Expert @Digitizer