Language no barrier

Real-time translations now on Google too, even if late to the party

- SREYA DEB

GOOGLE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED a new language feature for live translations — a feature that has been added as a pilot to the Google Translate app, that will allow users to translate in real time, live conversations and prompts in different languages.

The two new features of live conversation and language learning on Google are meant to supplement language apps like Duolingo, in making it easier for users to converse in and learn foreign languages.

As per a statement released by Matt Sheets, product manager at Google, the advanced live conversation model accounts for translations in 70 languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Arabic, French and Spanish among others.

In-call live translation apps like Jio Translate, and Galaxy AI for Samsung devices already offer this facility, wherein two people not familiar with each other's tongues can receive a live translation to their selected language, as the other person speaks into the mouthpiece.

Third-party apps like Telelingo, EzDubs, LingoEase, AiPhone and others also offer this feature, each with their own range of languages that they offer translations in.

Google, with their advanced AI translation tool is choosing to focus on empowering the user with conversation skills across languages.