Google has recently launched a translation app for the iPhone called Google Translate. What makes this app special is that it is allows you to speak in one language into your phone and then it will read it out loud translated into the chosen language. The person you are speaking to can then respond, and the app will translate and read out loud what they said in your starting language. As a bonus, it will also include a translated text, which can be enlarged.
The app is being marketed towards travelers, for example ordering food in a foreign language. However, what effect, if any, do you think it will have on language learners? Will it be a boon to motivated learners, or yet another crutch for indifferent students? What about other groups, such as the deaf community?
For those interested in reading more, here is a link to the Google Mobile Blog, which describes the app in more detail. Can’t wait to read your thoughts!
http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2011/02/introducing-google-translate-app-for.html
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ReplyDeleteI have a friend who tried using this for Japanese. Instead of, "Where is Nagai station?" it heard, "Where is not nice station?" I'm sure this app is great for the typical set phrases ("Thank you very much", "How much is this?", "Where are the bathrooms?") but I wonder how well it would work for longer, complicated sentences. I also wonder how likely it is that the user will then begin to modify his/her speech in order to fit into "Googlespeak".
ReplyDeleteOverall, this sounds like a fun little device for travelers and a great way to kill time and look up obscenities for language learners!
I can see this app being very useful when people are traveling and may be asking for words such as “toilet”, “information desk”, “ABC Company”, “taxi”, etc (more content words than function words, perhaps). However, will the app be able to correctly translate an English sentence to Japanese where you have to address people with different status differently? Moreover, what is the language learner’s ultimate goal in using this app? I can see the app being fun and interesting for the first few weeks and hence, motivate the learners but is it capable of providing learners with adequate resources when learners want to go beyond the current level (looking up single words)? If using the app is so easy, will the learners see the need of memorizing new vocabulary? The app can’t provide feedback (or have limited feedback) on the learner’s production. The learner will still have to test his/her knowledge (interlanguage) by interacting with someone else.
ReplyDeleteIf a learner (who has exactly no knowledge about the target language) wants to use this app to have a daily conversation with a native speaker in the TL, it may be awkward to talk to the app in English, repeat after the app and … ask the native speaker to speak to the app in the TL and translate it to English….? Just seems like too much work.
It will benefit our deaf learners if there is an app that you can type in a word and it shows a picture or a short clip of how you can sign the word. But the question of whether or not the learner sees the need of memorizing the word would rise again. Unless the learner look up the word for several times and repeatedly activate the information, it can be very hard for the learner to retain information.
This could help if you are trying to communicate in another language and forget an important word, such as ‘grocery store’. You can say it into the phone and the translation is instantaneous whether it is written or spoken. (You might let the person see or hear it so that there is no mistake!) Some languages do not have the spoken translations yet in this app. There is also another app that translates phrases for business, etc. Maybe this has been around a while?
ReplyDeletePerhaps a teacher could also use it like a (fast) dictionary in a conversation class to explain some ‘difficult to describe’ word or concept. Students in any language class could practice their pronunciation of new vocabulary at home. Distance learning students would be able to have a quick reference available for translation and pronunciation.
One consideration is that this app is best used in a wifi place since translations are web-based.. If used elsewhere, there could be high data roaming charges.
I have used a similar application for the iPhone. I was pretty impressed with the capabilities, but I will need to test this out. Something that I would be concerned with is the mispronunciation of certain words or phrases. What if the language learner does not know a specific word, or the proper pronunciation, will the translator pick up on the mistake? And if it did not pick up on the mistake, would the learner be able to correct themselves?
ReplyDeleteIt might become a crutch if the learner does not use the app for text based learning. In my own experience I do not learn as well through voice based only. I need the text in order learn the structure and proper form of the word. This also helps when I want to learn the proper pronunciation (I am sure this is more obvious to you who are in the ESL program). It could hinder the language learner, but I feel this could be a very good tool if the learner uses all the features. Interesting post!
Wow! This post I found very interesting! I was not aware that this app had been created (granted I am still discovering what in the world apps really are). I think that this app is in essence a lot like having the old hand held electronic translators that would read aloud the translation to you. The effects are probably similar to the ones on the old school translators. They are super excellent for basic phrases and key things you need to get across or have trouble with, but the more complex things you type in the worse the translations get. For instance, the translation of thank you very much that is posted on the google site that shows this (from English to Chinese) is one that is hardly ever used and might come across as strange. So, I think first, the users of any electronic translating device need to be aware that the translations are not always accurate.
ReplyDeleteThis could be helpful for travelers to other countries of course! And I would say that for a language learner that perhaps has forgotten a word, they would be helpful. I always carried around my dictionary in foreign countries so that if I got befuddled I could try to find what I needed to talk about, and an app that is less weight might be more helpful. I don't think a translation app would be something to deter a language learner as it doesn't have all the answers anyway. I would see it more as a tool to help them and as a resource.
As for the interesting question involving the deaf community, the fact that this speaks is helpful, because if they are in a foreign situation, and as sign languages around the world differ, this could be a great tool for a simple word or understanding that needs to be met between the people communicating.
I enjoyed reading about this new app. Great insights into the new technology around us!
Those pocket translators are not new idea. I couldn't participate in discussussion about this product(Google Translate for Smart Phones), but I did see and was trying to use all those gadgets, speaking out funny and sometime crasy way. I didn't take it seriosely, but decided that second-hand gift could be good toy for my son. He was elementary school student. All kids are gifted in this age. So in a few weeks my smart monkey(son) picked up some words by heart. But pronunciation was terrible! So I think this Translation App can be in help if your are going to travel abroad. At least if your are lasy to pick up few words from that vocabulary - you can look cool with sticking your Smartphone to the nose of clerk in your hotel.
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