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To a certain extent, Anglophones have the easy task. They speak one in five people in the world, which allows them to be easily understood from Athens to Zagreb. And for those of us who have learned English from a very young age, the languages we chose in high school or improved during our studies abroad make the world even more interconnected.
But sometimes, this advantage literally leaves us speechless. When trying to communicate with a taxi driver in Tokyo or choose the right cold medicine in France (how was it said to not cause drowsiness?), There are few things that can be done. they can do to help rudimentary language skills.
to Google Translate. Since 2006, this free app has crossed the language barrier for travelers around the world, and its algorithmic methods of machine learning are constantly improving (and learning more languages). Now, its technology is available to developers around the world through a public API, giving us smarter translation tools than ever before.
After eight months of road tests in France, Spain, Germany and Japan, these are five applications that have stood the test of time. All have free versions and are available for Android and iPhone devices.
The best for worldwide coverage
Google Translation
Why We Love: With the ability to automatically detect and translate more than 100 languages in both directions by text, voice and character recognition, this application covers a larger part of the world than others, although competitors use their technology as a base to provide unique specialized features and regional experience.
Warning: If you insert large pieces of text or something vaguely technical, Google will have difficulties, sometimes funny. Use Goal – which activates Google Translate from your phone's camera – to translate the label into a non-homogenized whole milk container in a Kyoto supermarket, for example, and I could tell you that & # 039; It is "Break the fat globules by homogenizing without making homogenous milk near the processed fish in the most artisanal way possible".
The best for business trips
TripLingo
Why we love: More than a translator, TripLingo is a complete tourist application whose goal is to minimize communication errors and errors when traveling abroad. It offers instant translations based on voice and text in 42 languages, as well as guidelines on local customs, etiquette and tips all over the world (there's even macho with medical and security phrases , in case).
Warning: Most basic features are free, but some exclusive premium features require a monthly payment of $ 20, including language courses, custom phrase lists, and live translation every 30 days.
The best for large groups
Microsoft Translator
Why we like it: Compared to other technological monsters, Microsoft offers a small number of languages, just over 60 in total. It is remarkable, however, for its ability to translate multiple languages simultaneously, all in the context of a single conversation. Whether in a boardroom with executives from six regional offices of a company or in a restaurant with global customers and common tables, this app will quickly translate everyone's thoughts for each participant into their respective phones.
Warning: Only 40 languages of application are available without internet connection.
The best for traveling in Asia
Waygo
Why we like it: In places where the characters' hanzi & # 39; (Chinese), & # 39; Kanji & # 39; (Japanese) and Hanja (Korean) & # 39; are used, Waygo is indispensable. Its developers are the pioneers and leaders of the visual translation of the characters.
The application, which was created four years ago, has the ability to interpret sentences, whether they are displayed horizontally or vertically and can translate any image from your gallery.
These qualities may be useful in trying to decipher the descriptions, written in Kanji, at Teien Museum, Tokyo, recently reopened; or when you buy a cold medicine in Seoul.
Waygo has a unique feature, exclusively for food, that offers an image of the word or phrase translated with the text, so you'll know that 'strawberry moving perry', translated from Japanese into English, is really a simple glass of juice.
Bonus: Most Waygo features are available offline in a pre-established way, so you do not have to worry about excessive roaming. All that makes the price worth it, starting at $ 7.99
Like any kind of experience, the Waygo algorithm is highly specialized for use in Asia. If its developers could extend to other alphabets of non-Romanesque languages, such as Arabic, Greek, Hebrew or Russian, customers would be happier to pay more for it.
The best for informal conversations
iTraslate
Why we like it: this application offers extreme versatility. It will translate everything you write in more than 100 languages. For 24 of them (in the last update), you can perform text-to-speech translations in a multitude of male and female voices. Most travelers will be comfortable with the free app, but a Pro subscription is required for offline translation in 33 languages.
The $ 4.99 monthly subscription also provides website translation in the app, which helps you search local blogs for recommendations.
Unlike other applications, iTranslate offers obvious benefits for Apple users. For example, an "Object Recognition" feature for iPhone identifies only items and gives its local name.
Even more useful is the voice translation and integration of Apple Watch, which offers hands-free help when you are busy.
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 broad combination of translation technologies, making suggestions for phrases unique and sometimes smarter.
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