Google is developing technology that will be able to translate languages around the world in real time. These technologies will make a big difference in every industry and be another leap towards globalization. Google expects to have it built within two years.
How does it work?
Google is combining their automatic system for translating text on computers (which is already being used) with their voice recognition systems found in their phone apps. Like a professional human interpreter that phone would analyze an entire phrase before translating it and providing its synthetic output.
Who will it affect?
Everyone!
Business, education and health executives and professionals will be able to communicate in their native language and easily work towards joint goals.
With the reduction in communication barriers people around the world will be able to communicate socially, even share jokes. The question has been raised whether this would help global relations or worsen them.
Kit Eaton has suggested that as if the device became ubiquitous few people would learn foreign languages. This could have a negative impact on global relations because the role that language has in connecting us to our world and shaping our how each of us think. He goes on to suggest that learning a foreign language helps us to understand a culture’s mindset. I can relate to this because when I was travelling I met some French men who struggled to communicate in English because they felt that what they were trying to say couldn’t be communicated in English. Did this mean they were thinking something that an English speak wouldn’t even think of because our language has never required us to think in this way?
It may also be important people heed the warning not to become dependent on such a device because
the consequences of mis-translation could be brutaland I doubt the phone is able to consider customary discretions.
Which other technologies would this enable?
If such technology is successful it would not be to long before a hearing aide type product was released which could act as a personal translator for business men and travellers.
Below is an interesting article I read by a reporter who has suggested that such a product could greatly affect they way print media writes. She is concerned the art she works in could be replaced by a science.
The impact on newspapers of Google’s dream phone goes far beyond the ability of a reporter to interview almost anyone. The key issue for journalists is that the technology behind the translation software analyzes phrases, not words.
While that is much more like what the human mind does, it poses some challenges similar to those Google gave us by becoming the dominant search engine. Who of us hasn’t struggled with SEO – search engine optimization. Consider the possibility of PTO – phrase translation optimization.
Wordsmithing is near and dear to most newspaper (print or digital) journalists. Turning a phrase, however, could short-circuit your attempts at global access if it results in bewildering banter up with which no editor would tolerate.
Solution: Write for the machine. Polite jargon: Phrase translation optimisation.
