Sunday, May 5, 2024

Translation Tech Is Amazing, Except When It's Not - WIRED - Translation

Today’s language translation apps are like self-driving cars: incredibly useful, promising, nearing maturity, and almost entirely powered by machines. It's astonishing that the technology even exists.

Even so, machine translation is still clunky at times, if not awkward.

Consider a recent conversation I had with my neighbor, Andre, who immigrated from Russia last year. Speaking little to no English, Andre is navigating the American Dream almost entirely through Google Translate, the most popular speech-to-speech translation app, first launched 10 years ago.

Through his phone, Andrew and I can hold surprisingly deep conversations about where he’s from, how he thinks, how we can help each other, and what he hopes for. But on more than one occasion, Google Translate failed to communicate what Andre was trying to express, which forced us both to shrug and smile through the breakdown.

As computers get smarter, however, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and others hope to fully remove the language barrier Andre and I shared that day. But it’ll take faster neural machine learning for that to happen, which “might be a few years out,” one developer I spoke to admitted.

Not that the wait matters. In fact, many consumers are surprised to learn just how good today’s translation apps already are. For example, this video shows three Microsoft Researchers using the company's live translation software to hold a conversation across multiple languages. The video is seven years old. But when I showed it to some friends, they reacted as if they'd seen the future.

“The technology surrounding translation has come a long way in a very short time,” says Erica Richter, a spokesperson for DeepL, an award-winning machine-translation service that licenses its technology to Zendesk, Coursera, Hitachi, and other businesses. “But this hasn’t happened in parallel with consumer awareness.”

I am a case in point. Although I’ve written about technology for nearly 20 years, I had no idea how deft Google Translate, Apple Translate, Microsoft Translator, and Amazon Alexa were until I started researching this story after my fateful encounter with Andre. The technology still isn’t capable of instant translation like you expect from a live human translator. But the turn-based speech-to-speech, text-to-speech, or photo-to-text translation is incredibly powerful.

And it’s getting better by the year. “Translate is one of the products we built that’s entirely using artificial intelligence,” a Google spokesperson says. “Since launching Google’s Neural Machine in 2016, we’ve seen the largest improvements in accuracy to translate entire sentences rather than just phrases.”

At the same time, half of the six apps I tried for this story sometimes botch even basic greetings. For instance, when I asked Siri and Microsoft Translator to convert “Olá, tudo bem?” from Portuguese to English, both correctly replied, “Hi, how are you?” Google Translate and Amazon Alexa, on the other hand, returned a more literal and awkward, “Hi, everything is fine?” or “Hi, is everything OK?” Not a total fail. But enough nuance to cause hesitancy or confusion on the part of the listener.

In other words, translation technology is similar to the impressive but often clumsy writing that ChatGPT churns out. It works. It’s encouraging. It’s a sign of the times. But the result often feels inhuman, if not disorienting.

It’s still good enough to change the world, though. “We process over a billion translations every day on Translate,” says the same Google rep. “And we’ve recently launched more AI-powered features to provide contextual awareness, including the ability to translate images with Lens, which enables you to search what you see with your camera app.”

For its part, Microsoft, which includes a helpful split screen for people facing each other on its highly rated translation app, boasts similar numbers. “We now have thousands of businesses using our technology to do batch, real-time, and document translation across 141 languages, as well as millions of active users taking advantage of live conversation through Microsoft Translator,” says Marco Casalaina, VP of product for Microsoft’s Azure AI.

When it comes to machine translation, there are basically two toolkits for converting tongues: small language models, like the open-source kind Microsoft uses “to be nimble, iterate faster, and scale effectively on important user devices,” and large language models, like the proprietary kind DeepL sells to 100,000 customers.

Some say the latter approach is more accurate and faster, but there are trade-offs: fewer supported languages (only a quarter of the 140 total for small language models) and no offline access, chief among them. But as DeepL’s Richter spins it, “We don’t offer offline translation, since end devices don’t provide the quality we want when working in the cloud.”

What’s next, then, for translation apps? Big Tech is mum for now.

"We don't speculate,” says a tight-lipped publicist from Apple, which first introduced its Siri-powered Translation app in 2020. “Soon, we will expand our web service to give users more options for translating image-based content, regardless of how you search for it,” says Google’s rep. For its part, DeepL is developing significant speech improvements “launching later this year.”

But none of this would even be possible without artificial intelligence, according to every developer I spoke to. “As AI continues to unlock new translation possibilities, we will remove the remaining language barriers,” says Microsoft’s Casalaina. “The tech just needs a few years to evolve,” adds DeepL’s Richter.

As my sometimes clumsy exchanges with Andre prove, today’s translation technology is mostly awesome but still confusing at times. Given that machines have been “speaking” for only 10 to 20 years, however, it’s hard to believe how good they’ve become at understanding and translating what our species has been doing for 200,000 years.

It might not be miraculous, but it’s pretty close.

Capisce?

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Saturday, May 4, 2024

Beyoncé makes history: French dictionary to feature pop icon's name - Hindustan Times - Dictionary

By
May 03, 2024 06:30 PM IST

Beyoncé is one of 40 people, including Cate Blanchett, who will be added to the new edition of a French dictionary.

Superstar Beyoncé is all set to make her mark in French history as she has earned a coveted spot in the latest edition of a French dictionary. According to a People report, UK newspaper The Times and French outlet France 24, the singer, 42, is one of 40 people to be included in the Larousse dictionary. This milestone adds yet another feather to the illustrious career of the 42-year-old artist. (Also read: Beyonce's ‘not a Country album’ Cowboy Carter is testimony to an experience that…)

Beyonce's name has been listed as a noun in French dictionary.
Beyonce's name has been listed as a noun in French dictionary.

A noun in the dictionary

Beyoncé's inclusion in the revered Larousse dictionary is a testament to her Louisiana Creole heritage. The musician, who recently released her eighth studio album Country Carter, has been listed as a proper noun in the 2024 version of Petit Larousse Illustré, which was first published in 1905. Her name is under the category of 'American singer of R&B and pop’.

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The addition of her name comes 20 years after another term connected to the singer was added to the Oxford English dictionary and it was Bootylicious. This time, the inclusion not only celebrates Beyoncé's contribution to music but also highlights her cultural significance on a global scale.

The Larousse dictionary is known for its encyclopaedic coverage of language and culture. It has a tradition of updating its pages with significant words and individuals on an annual basis.

Other inclusions

Other people included in the 2024 entries are actor Cate Blanchett, NBA icon LeBron James, and acclaimed director Christopher Nolan. The new entries “reflect concerns, developments or strong movements this year”, reveals Carine Girac-Marinier, head of dictionaries and encyclopaedias at Larousse, to French outlet Le Point. The names are drawn up by a jury. They draft up a yearly list of 150 words and individuals who are known amongst French-speaking communities.

Massive year for Beyonce

The multiple Grammy Award winning artist released her wildly successful eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter, just over a month ago. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart on April 13. Cowboy Carter was also at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums, Americana/Folk Albums and Top Album Sales charts. In fact, the album made her the first Black woman to have a number one country album.

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When it comes to the music, it was also a hit among her fans. It included a cover of the Dolly Parton track Jolene, which got a thumbs up by the icon. “Wow, I just heard Jolene,” Parton, 78, wrote on social media after the album was released. (Read: Beyoncé shares 'Cowboy Carter' track list ahead of album, mentions Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson)

Next, Beyonce will be back on big screens with the release of her animated film, Mufasa: The Lion King. She has lent her voice once again to the role of Nala in the film.

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Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.

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Friday, May 3, 2024

How not to make English to Spanish translation mistakes - Mexico News Daily - Translation

When learning a new language, we often stumble upon phrases that seem straightforward to translate from English to Spanish, only to realize they can lead to confusion or sound odd. I’ve encountered this firsthand with friends who are learning Spanish. I often hear phrases like: “Realicé que estaba en otro lugar” (I realized I was in the wrong place), “no lo había realizado” (I hadn’t realized that), or “Oh! No problemo!” English to Spanish translation mistakes like these are very common, and can sometimes cause confusion for the listener.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a big advocate of people communicating despite making mistakes and this has happened to me quite a lot while learning Italian, French and even English. It is a matter of trying. However, while their attempts at using these phrases can be endearing, I’ve found it helpful to guide them toward more natural expressions in my own language. 

In this article, we’ll explore four common English phrases and their incorrect or literal translations in Spanish, along with the reasons why they are wrong and the correct way to say them in Spanish.

Four common English to Spanish translation mistakes and how to avoid them

Actually

Incorrect: “Actualmente”

Reason: “Actualmente” refers to the present moment in Spanish, while “actually” means “in reality” or “de hecho” in Spanish.

Correct Form: “En realidad” or “de hecho”

Example: “Actually, I’m not sure if I can make it to the party tonight.”

Translation: De hecho, no estoy segura si voy a lograr ir a la fiesta hoy.

No problem

Incorrect: “No problemo”

Reason: “Problemo” is not a word in Spanish. 

Correct Form: “Sin problema” or “no te preocupes”

Example: “No problem, I can help you with that.”

Translation: Sin problema, yo te ayudo con eso. 

To realize

Incorrect: “Realizar”

Reason: While “realizar” does mean “to realize” in some contexts, the meaning in Spanish for it is “to carry out” or “to perform.” “To realize” in the sense of understanding or becoming aware of something is better translated as “darse cuenta.”

Correct Form: “Darse cuenta”

Example: “I didn’t realize it was so late.”

Translation: No me di cuenta que era tan tarde.

Sometimes, two words might sound the same but have quite different meanings, which can be very confusing.

Can I have

Incorrect: “Puedo tener”

Reason: While “puedo tener” technically translates to “I can have,” it is not the correct and natural way to ask for something in Spanish. Instead, we use “me puede dar” or “me puede traer.”

Correct Form: “Me puede dar” or “me puede traer”

Example: “Can I have a glass of water, please?”

Translation: Me puede traer un vaso de agua, por favor?

By understanding and avoiding literal translations, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively and naturally in Spanish. Keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes – it’s all part of the learning process!

Paulina Gerez is a translator-interpreter, content creator, and founder of Crack The Code, a series of online courses focused on languages. Through her social media, she helps people see learning a language from another perspective through her fun experiences. Instagram: paulinagerezm / Tiktok: paugerez3 / YT: paulina gerez

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Thursday, May 2, 2024

Beyoncé Added to French Encyclopedic Dictionary List of Definitions - Rolling Stone - Dictionary

On “Alien Superstar,” Beyoncé runs through a couple of definitions of who she is, “I’m one of one, I’m number one, I’m the only one,” and “Category: bad bitch, I’m the bar” among them. Following her lead, the French encyclopedic dictionary Petit Larousse Illustré has added the musician’s name as a proper noun in its 2024 update.

The dictionary defines Beyoncé as an “American singer of R&B and pop.” Her name appears among a list of 40 international personalities to be added to the issue in a batch that included more than 150 new entires. Cate Blanchett, LeBron James, and Christopher Nolan are also among the new names in the book.

In an interview with Le Point, Larousse’s head of dictionaries and encyclopedias Carine Girac-Marinier explained that the entires “reflect concerns, developments or strong movements this year,” as well as “values of the Petit Larousse — excellence and promotion of French culture.”

Beyoncé’s name also has a French origin. Her mother, Tina Knowles, gave the singer her maiden name to keep some semblance of her family name alive. “My name was Celestine Beyoncé,” Knowles explained on In My Head with Heather Thomson in 2020. “I asked my mother when I was grown. I was like, ‘Why is my brother’s name spelled B-E-Y-I-N-C-E?’ You know, it’s all these different spellings. And my mom’s reply to me was like, ‘That’s what they put on your birth certificate.’”

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She added: “So I said, ‘Well, why didn’t you argue and make them correct it?’ And she said, ‘I did one time. The first time, and I was told ‘Be happy that you’re getting a birth certificate’ because, at one time, Black people didn’t get birth certificates.”

Back in 2004, Knowles relayed a version of this origin story to Rolling Stone, explaining that her grandfather Lumis Beyince — a Creole who lived in New Orleans and spoke French — was less than impressed about the change. “My family was not happy,” she said at the time. “My dad said, ‘She’s gonna be really mad at you, because that’s a last name.’ And I’m like, ‘It’s not a last name to anybody but you guys.’”

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Trump Invents a New Word: 'Becocked?' - LAmag - Los Angeles Magazine - Dictionary

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Trump Invents a New Word: 'Becocked?' - LAmag  Los Angeles Magazine

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

The Bizarre Way Norway Used to Translate Foreign Movie Titles - Mentalfloss - Translation

Whether it’s China calling The Full Monty “Six Naked Pigs” or Denmark translating Die Hard as “Mega Hard,” it’s not always easy to translate a movie’s title, or its intentions, into another language. But Norway felt like it had cracked the code—at least for comedies. 

As YouTuber SindrElf explains in the video below, the country spent nearly a century translating the titles of comedy movies using a very specific formula “Help, + Vague Reference to the Plot.” That means that Airplane! was released as “Help, We’re Flying” and This Is Spinal Tap was released as “Help, We’re in the Pop Industry.” The Vacation films followed suit: National Lampoon’s Vacation became “Help, We Have To Go On Vacation” and was followed by “Help, We Have To Go On European Vacation,” “Help, It’s Christmas Vacation,” and “Help, We Have To Go On Vacation to Las Vegas.”

Admittedly, it’s a shrewd way of streamlining the process of translation while also aiding the audience in understanding what the movie is actually about, regardless of American slang or oblique titles. Plus, it signaled to prospective moviegoers that they were in for a few laughs, as the Hjelp formula naturally injects a sense of madcap wackiness into whatever movie it’s being applied to. 

It also led to delightfully meta titles like “Help, We’re Getting Help” (Volunteers starring Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, and John Candy) and “Help, I’m Dead” (the 1991 TV movie Hi Honey – I’m Dead). 

According to SindrElf, the practice was widely popular in the 1970s and 1980s, but largely died out in the 2010s because of the widespread understanding of the English language in Norway. However, there are some modern Norwegian films spoofing the well-known translation practice, like 2011’s Hjelp, vi er i filmbransjen (Help, We’re in the Movie Business).

As further proof the trend was ending, Norway inexplicably retitled Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs as It Rains Meatballs, which seems like a missed opportunity to insert a little Hjelp into the box office.  

The most recent movie he could find still adopting the excellent “Hjelp” titling practice was in 2012, which sadly means that we will have to come up with our own Norwegian names for movies like Booksmart and Knives Out

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Trump Invents a New Word: 'Becocked?' - LAmag - Los Angeles Magazine - Dictionary

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Trump Invents a New Word: 'Becocked?' - LAmag  Los Angeles Magazine