'Tower of Babel' translator made

[red team]

'Tower of Babel' translator made (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6083994.stm)

[Forward Union]

I want it.

[loveme4whoiam]

Cool. I love the study of languages (which I have unfortunately neglected recently) and stuff like this always makes me grin inanely. The fact that they have such technology working now, all be it in the early stages, is a good sign.

I would question though how people will be able ot have long conversations, involving movements in and out of different tenses. Come to that, the grammatical structure of different languages is very different - just saying the words in English will by no means translate well into Spanish or Chinese or something. Still, I'm sure they will work around that - maybe have a delay on the speech while the little device reads and re-arranges the sentence ^_^

[Janus]

The problem still rests here with accuracy and the diversity of one's vocabulary. Otherwise, this translator should simplify things quite a bit.

[Dr Mindbender]

I think it would make people lazy and give them a 'security blanket' excuse not to learn more languages. Theres no talent like genuine multi-linguism. Presumably this device isnt indestructible so what if you got into a life or death situation where you needed to communicate with the local populace and your device wasnt working that day? You'd be fucked.

[bezdomni]

Does it take into account the fact that there are many different accents and local dialects of what is essentially the same language?

For example, I have never met anybody that uses the verb "chingar" that wasn't from Mexico or learned a Mexican dialect of Spanish.

There are loads of other examples, that is just the first one that came to mind.

[Janus]

There are loads of other examples, that is just the first one that came to mind.
I'm assuming that it uses the proper grammar of the language when translating like most other translators.

[RevolutionaryMarxist]

That's freaking awesome. :D

[gilhyle]

Really effective machine translation is still a long way off. Even professional programs like 'Trados' require huge human intervention to turn their approximations into effective text - not to say it doesnt speed up up translation, but only if you are happy with sub-standard results.

[gilhyle]

Apparently the Bond Film 'Dr. No' was once translated as 'No Doctor Required'...guess humas often are not much better than machines.

[ComradeOm]

Originally posted by Ulster [email protected] 14, 2006 05:34 pm
I think it would make people lazy and give them a 'security blanket' excuse not to learn more languages. Theres no talent like genuine multi-linguism. Presumably this device isnt indestructible so what if you got into a life or death situation where you needed to communicate with the local populace and your device wasnt working that day? You'd be fucked.
By the same token the car was a disaster because people got less fit when they had no need to walk everywhere.

[manic expression]

Originally posted by ComradeOm+November 18, 2006 02:43 pm--> (ComradeOm @ November 18, 2006 02:43 pm)
Ulster [email protected] 14, 2006 05:34 pm
I think it would make people lazy and give them a 'security blanket' excuse not to learn more languages. Theres no talent like genuine multi-linguism. Presumably this device isnt indestructible so what if you got into a life or death situation where you needed to communicate with the local populace and your device wasnt working that day? You'd be fucked.
By the same token the car was a disaster because people got less fit when they had no need to walk everywhere.[/b]
Ever been to suburban America?

[ComradeOm]

Originally posted by manic [email protected] 19, 2006 03:22 am
Ever been to suburban America?
Are you suggesting that America's reliance on the internal combustion engine is the reason for its massive obesity crisis or that we'd be better off without the car?

[manic expression]

Originally posted by ComradeOm+November 20, 2006 05:11 pm--> (ComradeOm @ November 20, 2006 05:11 pm)
manic [email protected] 19, 2006 03:22 am
Ever been to suburban America?
Are you suggesting that America's reliance on the internal combustion engine is the reason for its massive obesity crisis or that we'd be better off without the car? [/b]
Yes, for the most part (not to the last part). American suburbia is built around the car, it's very difficult to walk anywhere; people drive everywhere because that's the only way to get around.

It may not be the only reason for the obesity crisis, but it is a very big one IMO.

This has nothing to do with the car itself. I have nothing against the technology at all, only the way it's being misused in society.