Speak any language instantly

 Neil: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English: the programme in which we talk about a story in the news and learn some vocabulary while we’re doing it. I’m Neil and joining me today is Jen. Hi there, Jen. 

Jen: Hi Neil. 
Neil: Now, this sounds like every struggling language student’s dream... 
Jen: A piece of technology which could put an end to hours and hours of study… 
Neil: It sounds like something from science fiction… 
Jen: A machine which allows you to speak any language in the world… instantly! 
Neil: OK, well not quite, but we are talking about an app - a piece of software common on smartphones - developed in Japan. This app allows you to have conversations with another person speaking in a different language translated in real time - in other words, instantly. 
Jen: This could put us out of a job, Neil! Now come on, it must be time for a language-related quiz. 
Neil: Yes, that’s exactly what we’ll do now. I want to know, how many languages are there in the world? Is it: 
a) about 100 
b) about 1,000 
c) about 6,000 
Jen: Well, I think there are a lot but maybe not 6,000, so I’ll go for b) about 1,000. 
Neil: OK, well we will find out, as ever, at the end of the programme. Back now to our app. 
Jen: This, of course, isn’t the only instant translation technology in the world. 
Neil: No, Google have something similar, though it’s less advanced than this Japanese app. Listen to the first part of a report from the BBC’s correspondent 1, Richard Taylor. How does the Google technology work
BBC correspondent Richard Taylor: 
You simply talk into your smartphone. That’s then sent to the server from Google, which does real-time voice recognition 2 and then machine translation on it and then that data is sent back to your phone either as a script or, if you pay a little bit extra in terms of data charges, as a voice file. 
Neil: He says when you talk into your smartphone, it’s sent to the server - a central computer which other computers get their information from. 
Jen: The server does real-time translation and then sends back a text or voice file. 
Neil: So you read the translation or, if you pay a little bit more, listen to a translation sent as an audio recording 3. 
Jen: Amazing stuff! 
Neil: Indeed, but this new app in Japan, developed by the company NTT Docomo, goes even further. 
Jen: That’s right. With this technology, you can have an actual conversation with someone on the other side of the world, speaking a different language to the one which is coming out of your mouth! 
Neil: Incredible 4! Now listen to the second part of the report from the BBC’s Richard Taylor. 
BBC correspondent Richard Taylor: 
But they’ve actually taken the concept and applied 5 it to normal phone calls. So, you’re making a phone call to somebody from Japan in Japanese, on the other side of the world, for example in Britain. It will take that Japanese voice, do the real-time machine translation on the server, couple of seconds later it would bring it back down to you in English. Or at least that’s the idea. 
Neil: So, the difference is that this app allows people to speak to foreigners in real time - with a slight pause while the real-time translation takes place. 
Jen: So, which languages does it convert 6? 
Neil: At the moment, Japanese to English, Mandarin 7 and Korean. But more are to follow. 
Jen: I suppose the big question is “How accurate is the translation?” 
Neil: Yes, that is the big question. The BBC’s Richard Taylor tried it out with the help of a Japanese translator. What did he ask and how good does the translator think the app is? 
BBC correspondent Richard Taylor: 
Reporter: Hello, how are you? Are there any good restaurants around here? 
Smartphone: [Japanese reply] 
Reporter: How well did that do as a translation, first of all? 
Japanese translator: Well, it’s understandable but it’s not perfect. 
Neil: The reporter asked if there is a good restaurant nearby. 
Jen: And the Japanese translator says the app was understandable but not perfect. 
Neil: Is this technology going to sweep the world, I wonder? 
Jen: Well, there are some other companies hot on the heels of the Japanese company NTT Docomo. For example, France’s Alcatel-Lucent is developing a rival product which will operate on landlines. 
Neil: And Microsoft is working on something it’s calling the Translating Telephone. Now the question I want to ask you Jen is, “Do you think this will put an end to language learning forever?” 
Jen: Well, I hope not. I think these types of technologies are always helpful but nothing will ever replace learning a language. I know I’m biased 8 but speaking a foreign language is one of life’s great pleasures! 
Neil: And I agree with you but, of course, I would because it’s my job. 
Jen: Before we go, Neil, aren’t you going give the answer to the quiz? 
Neil: OK, yes. I wanted to know how many languages there are in the world. Is it: 
a) about 100 
b) about 1,000 
c) about 6,000 
Jen: And I said b) about 1,000. 
Neil: And you are wrong. I know you speak about 1,000 languages, Jen, but the answer is about 6,000. 
Jen: Wow! 
Neil: Now, time for a recap of some of the words we heard in today’s programme. 
Jen: They are: app, smartphone, in real time, server, hot on the heels. 
Neil: Join us again soon for more 6 Minute English from bbclearningenglish.com. 
Jen: And don’t forget to find us on Facebook and Twitter. 
Neil: Bye for now. 
Jen: Bye. 6 Minute English ? British Broadcasting Corporation 2012 Page 4 of 4 bbclearningenglish.com 
Vocabulary and definitions 
app software common on mobile phones 
smartphone a mobile phone which is also a small computer 
in real time instantly 
server a central computer which other computers get their information from 
hot on the heels very soon after something 




点击收听单词发音  






1
correspondent

  
 


n.记者，通信者；adj.符合的，一致的，相当的


参考例句：





He volunteered as a correspondent for the war.他自愿担任作报道这次战争的记者。
The result was correspondent with my wishes.结果与我的愿望是一致的。












2
recognition

  
 


n.承认，认可，认出，认识


参考例句：





The place has changed beyond recognition.这地方变得认不出来了。
A sudden smile of recognition flashed across his face.他脸上掠过一丝笑意，表示认识对方。












3
recording

  
 


n.录音，记录


参考例句：





How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。












4
incredible

  
 


adj.难以置信的，不可信的，极好的，大量的


参考例句：





Some planets run at incredible speed.某些星球以难以置信的速度运行着。
Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.她的回答显示出不可思议的愚蠢。












5
applied

  
 


adj.应用的；v.应用，适用


参考例句：





She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。












6
convert

  
 


v.（在形式、状态、用途等方面）（使）改变


参考例句：





I must convert sorrow into strength.我要化悲痛为力量。
At what rate does the dollar convert into pounds?美元以什么汇率兑换成英镑？












7
Mandarin

  
 


n.中国官话，国语，满清官吏；adj.华丽辞藻的


参考例句：





Just over one billion people speak Mandarin as their native tongue.大约有十亿以上的人口以华语为母语。
Mandarin will be the new official language of the European Union.普通话会变成欧盟新的官方语言。












8
biased

  
 


a.有偏见的


参考例句：





a school biased towards music and art 一所偏重音乐和艺术的学校
The Methods: They employed were heavily biased in the gentry's favour. 他们采用的方法严重偏袒中上阶级。