Re: The chain-of-dialects

Gene Kalutskiy wrote:

>
> >>>Hi David, I read what you write but I must ask what is your point?
> Will
> English replace other languages?
> Gerry<<<
>
> I'll answer this: no, not in the forseeable future. Television,
> computers, internet, etc. - all those things are also available in
> local languages, and the trend is that new programs, etc., are
> translated and adapted to new languages. Just because most software,
> movies, books, etc. first appear in the US does not mean those things
> are not made in other countries in other languages. There are plenty
> computer programs, games, etc. that are created in France, Germany,
> Russia, Japan, that first appear in their own language version and only
> later get translated into English (if ever). There's nothing preventing
> any other country in the world eventually taking the technolodgical
> and/or cultural lead, making that country's language "cool" and useful.
>
> And really, the only reason for the current wide spread of the English
> language in the world is British colonialism. Do you really think that
> outside the business elite, the scientific circles and some other minor
> groups, there are lots of people in non-English-speaking countries who
> routinely talk to each other in English, or watch movies in the
> original, or read books in it, even though they can get it translated
> to their native language?
>
> David Hanig wrote:
> > But such programs are advancing
> > rapidly, so rapidly that simultaneous translation will be a familiar
> > utility within a decade. As some point, we may be able to wear an
> > earphone that instantly translates an obscure dialect to English (and
> > back again). Fairly soon, we should be able to participate in
> > multinational audiovisual conference calls in which computers will
> > provide simultaneous translation.
>
> I strongly doubt that. Such programs may become more useful but they
> will not be able to instantly translate without missing some nuances or
> making even more serious mistakes, until a VERY sofisticated artificial
> intelligence is created. As it is, it takes years of studying language
> and culture to be able to do simultaneous translation - you would have
> to input a bunch of old movies, cartoons, all kinds of technical and
> general literature into your computer program and even then... The only
> way around it would be to have people use an artificially dry language,
> avoiding any ambiguities, something that would feel like a computer
> programming language. Anyway, I'm really skeptical about all this
> computer translation thingy, although I'd be pleasantly surprised if I
> turned out to be wrong in a couple of decades.
>
>

Gerry writes:
Hi Gene, I'm afraid I disagree with you. I think class will have a
definite impact on language and the computer. And the "educated class"
is the one that utilizes the web. This educated class will have the
answers to questions asked by non-computer literate folks and I think
the folks without a computer will become the "other" class. As far as
folks in France and Germany wishing to preserve their language and their
computer "games", I think money does the talking and the world wide
market is very seductive. It would be worth it for the folks in France
and Germany to have their programs written in English -- they'll sell
more to the rest of the world. The same with Japan.

About translation. Can't I take this email and have it converted to say
German? I haven't done it yet but I THINK I should be able to (I'm a
computer dummy when it comes to technical stuff). And I agree that the
result should be a "dry" language. Anyhow, one without a "hidden"
feeling. Also, I don't think you'll have to wait 20 years or so. I
think it's happening as we email.

Gerry