Kats use about 75 different types of meows to indicate just as many different things, even if we only hear a few.

The mrew that my littlest one means please pick me up and pet me as I need you to stand near me while I eat so that I can flick my tail on your face.

Imagine if I didn't know that... I may just pick her up and give her some snuggles and she would claw the crap outta me. hummm

On to the topic.
Instantaneous understandment of other races with the translator... shouldn't happen so instantaneously... (is that a word?) maybe start out with a 33% translation factor with a follow on choice made by you iaw the interpretation... each response has a positive/neutral/negative result. As your diplomacy and influence increase so does the translation, giving you an a better chance of changing that races alignments and trust torwards you.... or really pissing them off.

Just a thought.
W/R
Suralle