Can computer translators ever beat speaking a foreign
language?
Do
you use translation software? What is your experience?
How
is translation technology different to human?
Put the French meal crottin de chèvre into
Google Translate, and you'll be told it means goat pooh.
Translation software like Google Translate
are good for tourists. But when the
stakes are higher, for example in business, law or medicine, it can be a
problem.
This can be a big problem especially when
the same word has many meanings.
More sophisticated
software (CATs) does help with translations that are repeated a lot.
CATs (computer aided translations) are used
as part of modern language degree courses these days. So how good are they?
One of the most popular new tools is the
translation earpiece. This is usually paired with a smartphone app. They hear
spoken foreign languages and translate them for the user.
Speech technology has made a huge leap forward in accuracy.
And CAT tools have made translating text a
lot easier. One example is surveys.
For meetings, wearable translators are
popular. But even this new technology has problems.
Computers still lack the small things that
make human communication unique.
If you want to make a relationship with the
reader, you need a human translator to make it sound natural and get the sentiment of what is said or what is
read. Sentiment is needed to translate feelings.
Some believe CAT tools hinder creativity.
But this problem could be resolved within the next 10 years.
Foreign language skills are still wanted in jobs.
In the UK about 15% of the jobs posted on
recruitment website Reed ask for a foreign language.
New research from the American Council on
the Teaching of Foreign Languages shows 75% of manufacturing companies need
employees with different language skills.
There are other reasons too. How can you
get to know a country and embrace
the culture if you don't speak the language.
Some say, even with the voice-activated
apps available, you will still lose being able to fully enjoy the culture and
language of another country.
Try
to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest
meaning from the choices in the right. Some of the answers are very close and
have similar meaning. The meaning of these words is how they are used in the
reading. Some of these words have different meanings in the dictionary
depending on how they are used.
The
answers are below the table.
the stakes are high
|
A
|
1
|
Complex, opposite of simple, high culture and
high class
|
sophisticated
|
B
|
2
|
Feelings and emotions
|
a huge leap forward
|
C
|
3
|
To fix a problem/issue
|
unique
|
D
|
4
|
When it is very important to succeed
|
sentiment
|
E
|
5
|
To accept, to hug
|
hinder
|
F
|
6
|
Unusual, one of a type/kind, special,
different
|
resolved
|
G
|
7
|
To make difficult to go forward, to stop or
slow something down
|
embrace
|
H
|
8
|
A big change, big innovation or change
|
A=4, B=1, C=8, D=6, E=2, F=7, G=3, H=5
Some example sentences using the new words or phrases from the
meaning of how they are used in the reading to help you understand better.
For Korean students, the stakes are high for the university
entrance exam.
She is a sophisticated woman. She speaks 3 languages and has a lot of
culture.
Smart phones were a big leap forward in technology.
The Ginko tree is unique to Korea.
Her sentiment was that her boyfriend did not care because he forgot her
birthday.
Eat your dinner. If you don’t it
will hinder your strength.
I said thank you to the
customer service lady because she resolved
our problem well.
Younger people embrace technology faster than older
people.
Some questions using the new words/phrases. Try to use the words/phrases
in your answer.
Give an example when the stakes have been high for you.
Compare an app that is sophisticated (or software) with a
simple app (or software).
What huge leaps forward in technology do you think will happen in the next 10
or 20 years?
What is unique about humans compared to AI?
Do you think that technology
will have sentiments in the future?
What hinders technology from translating sentiments? How can this change?
Give an example when technology
has resolved a problem for you?
Do you embrace new ideas and technology more or less than other people?