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To a certain extent, Anglophones have the easy task. The language is spoken by one in five people in the world, which makes it easy to understand from Athens to Zagreb. And for those of us who have learned English as toddlers, the languages we learned in high school or honed during study abroad make the world feel even better. more interconnected.
words. When trying to communicate with a taxi driver in Tokyo or choose the right cold medicine in France (how do you say non-drowsy, yet?), There are so many rudimentary language skills, or a helpful janitor, can do to help.
Enter Google Translate. Since 2006, the free application has broken the language barrier for far-flung travelers and its algorithmic methods of machine learning have only improved (and speak fluently more languages) over time. Its technology is now available to developers around the world via a public API, which means smarter translation tools than ever before. Some are specialized for particular languages or regions, some may listen to your voice in addition to reading text, and some may even automatically detect languages or use image recognition to provide the words you are looking for.
None of them perfect – not yet – and sometimes they can not tell the difference between an asp and an elbow. But after eight months of road tests in France, Spain, Germany and Japan, the five have stood the test of time. All have free versions and are available for both Android devices and iPhones
Best for Global Coverage
Google Translate
Why We Like It: With More 100 languages that can be automatically detected and translated back and forth by the recognition of text, voice and characters (in various combinations), this application covers more globe than any other, even if competitors use its technology as a basis for unique specialized features and regional expertise. Earlier this summer, Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., announced that its machine translation engine, which creates more natural translations by parsing whole sentences rather than individual words, now works offline for 58 languages. And Google Lens, which triggers Google Translate from your phone's camera, lets you fly over a panel or menu and instantly see its written translation. The feature is now integrated into most Android phone cameras; Just look for the lens icon. It is also accessible via the "camera" option in Google Translate or via a separate companion application.
Warning: Give him big chunks of text or something vaguely technical, and Google struggles, sometimes comically. Use Lens to translate the label on a carton of whole milk, not homogenized in a supermarket in Kyoto, for example, and it could tell you to break the homogenizing fat globules without homogenizing the milk near the processed fish made as artisanally as possible". Why We Love It: More than just a translator, TripLingo is a full-service travel app designed to minimize communication errors and missteps when traveling abroad.
It offers instant voice and text translations in 42 languages, as well as guidelines on local customs, etiquette and tips in the world. There are even tips on medical and safety phrases, just in case.
Perhaps its most intelligent function is the translation of receipts, which uses the camera of your phone to convert photos and slips into the language of your choice. it saves translated versions as PDF files that you can easily add to expense reports. (In credit card-crashed countries like Japan, where cash receipts are also expressed in kanji, this is extremely useful.) Need to do something more complicated, such as changing a train reservation or explaining a food allergy ? Use TripLingo's real-time translation service, which receives a human translator on the line for $ 3.50 a minute
Warning: Most basic features are free, but some unique premium features require a subscription of 20 $ per month including language courses
Best for Large Groups
Microsoft Translator
Why We Like It: Compared to other technological behemoths, Microsoft offers a small number of languages - a little over 60 in total. Yet it stands out for its ability to translate multiple languages simultaneously, all within the context of a single conversation. Whether in a conference room with executives from six regional offices of a company or in a restaurant with global customers and common tables, the application will quickly translate everyone's thoughts for each participant on their phone.
to get menu recommendations and share stories with other guests at the bar; The application was surprisingly accurate and even offered practical conversation guides for more intimate situations. The best of all?
Warning: Only 40 of the application languages are available offline.
Ideal for traveling in Asia
Waygo
Why we like it: In places where Chinese Hanzi, Japanese Kanji and Korean Hanja characters are used, Waygo is essential. Its developers are the pioneers and leaders of visual character translation; The four-year application is only capable of interpreting sentences, whether they are displayed vertically or horizontally, and it can translate any picture from your film.
These qualities can be helpful in deciphering Kanji-based descriptions at the recently opened Teien Museum in Tokyo or when buying cold medicine in Seoul. With regard to translation applications that may be too literal in the face of idiomatic expressions? Waygo has a unique feature, exclusively for food, that offers images of your translated word or phrase next to the text, so you know that "strawberry moving perry" – translates from Japanese to English – is really just a glass of juice. Bonus: Most of Waygo's features are offline by default, so there's no need to worry about roaming overruns. All of this is well worth the price tag, which starts at $ 7.99
Why We Love: As with any type of expertise, Waygo's algorithms are highly specialized for use in Asia. If its developers could extend to other non-Roman alphabet languages such as Arabic, Greek, Hebrew and Russian, we would be happy to pay again. more for that
Best for Casual Conversations
iTranslate
Why We Like It: This app offers extreme versatility. It will translate everything you type into more than 100 languages. For 24 of them (at the last count), it will spring text translations to a multitude of male and female voices. Most travelers will feel comfortable with the free app, but an upgrade to Pro is required for offline translation in 33 languages. The $ 4.99 monthly subscription also offers integrated website translation, which allows you to browse local blogs for recommendations.
Unlike other apps, iTranslate offers obvious benefits to Apple users. For example, an "Object Recognition" feature for iPhone identifies items and suggests their local name. This pretty bird outside your Provencal window? It's a wren or a wren. Even more useful are the voice-to-voice translation and Apple Watch integration, which offers hands-free help when you are busy launching tapas in Spain.
Warning: Many of the most useful features of this application, including the Pro version are offered for free by Google Translate and Microsoft Translator. But iTranslate uses a wide range of translation technologies, which makes the suggestions of phrases unique and sometimes more astute.
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