Smartphones: the new translators?

Bargainin in a market in Thailand. Photo: Eugene Tang / BangkokSights.com
Bargaining in Chatuchak Weekend Market in Thailand. Photo: Eugene Tang / BangkokSights.com

One of the biggest obstacles to traveling is the language barrier. Simple tasks like asking where the bathroom is, telling a taxi driver to take you to your hotel, and others can seem like impossible missions.

Can technology bridge the gap? Some new applications being developed for smartphones offer potentially exciting possibilities for vagabonders. Read about them in this MSNBC article, Have smartphones licked the language barrier?

It would be much more efficient than asking the front-desk staff to always write notes for you in the local language.  I’ve used this method many times in the past, mostly for taxi directions to places I wanted to go.

However, our very own Rolf Potts appears in the article, to warn against over-reliance on technology. It can be downright rude to shove a piece of electronics into someone’s face as if they should communicate with it, not with you.

Some things can’t replace human-to-human contact. Knowing a few key phrases like “please” and “thank you” will go a long way in any country. You’ll garner much more respect from locals if you say things yourself, without the aid of an electronic translator.

Do you already use smartphones and other tools to break down the language barrier? Please share your stories and any resources in the comments.

Posted by | Comments (6)  | January 22, 2010
Category: General, Notes from the collective travel mind, Travel Gear, Travel News


6 Responses to “Smartphones: the new translators?”

  1. Kyle Says:

    I’m sure the smart phones work well as translators, but it just doesn’t sound like any fun. There’s nothing exciting by having a machine do all the talking for you.

  2. Nicolaï Says:

    They’re also really expensive.

  3. Sabina Says:

    But the language barrier is great! It forces you to find entirely different – and perfectly effective – ways to communicate.

  4. Dick Jordan Says:

    My German translation iPhone app would spell out an speak any word or phrase I typed in. But it couldn’t translate any response I might have received. Best to learn a bit of the lingo (even it just the “plesantries” of the language, as Rolf suggests, before you go abroad.

  5. Ted Beatie Says:

    While I absolutely agree that relying too heavily on technology can mar the experience, like everything, I believe that moderation and being cognizant of the correct and incorrect time to use various devices is key.

    When my wife and I were in China this past summer, we had phraseguides and the MeNoSpeak which was often plenty for basic communication. However, one night, on a small island in the East China Sea, we desperately needed to find a computer with a web-browser in order to view an offer on a house we were making back home. (Don’t ask why we were trying to negotiate a house purchase from across the world, that’s a different and more annoying story.) There was clearly ‘net on the island as we could see shopkeepers playing World of Warcraft. However, none of our guidebooks could adequately translate “We need a computer with internet. Do you have that? We can pay.” Enter the handy “Translator” app by CodeDesign, which would translate our question into Chinese characters.

    I have no idea how accurate the translation was, but we did eventually find a hotel with a business desk that we could return to in the morning.

    We didn’t get the house, but at least there’s an interesting story.