4 ms·
I think people are overestimating the word "language barrier". People often forget that the language barrier is not a one-sided problem. Communication is a coll
by euske 11y ago
I think people are overestimating the word "language barrier". People often forget that the language barrier is not a one-sided problem. Communication is a collaborative effort (unless we're just spying them). I bet that something like keyword spotting for commonly used 3000 words is already pretty feasible, and that would greatly reduce the language barrier. Perfect translation is neither possible nor necessary to induce mutual effort.
(By the way, I've seen so many US tourists in Europe who don't even try to speak a single word in their language. They don't seem to know that a simple "thank you" in their native tongue would greatly reduce the barrier and change their sentiment towards the US. In this sense, I believe that technology is more or less neutral to mutual understanding, because not knowing a language (or the idea that not knowing a language is acceptable) can have adverse effects.)
Edit: a few grammatical errors. Damn my Japaneseness!
- hodwik 11y ago> (the idea that not knowing a language is acceptable) It's not? I'm in big trouble. There are more than 6,000 languages I do not know.
- Piskvorrr 11y agoThe point is probably "it's not acceptable to assume 'everyone knows English, but most are just too lazy to use it'" rather than "of course you're supposed to be fluent in any language" ;)
- caseysoftware 11y agoThis. Two years ago I visited Paris for the first time. I knew four phrases: hello, please, thank you, and "my name is.." and I expected ridicule and people being rude to me left and right. It turned out that attempting to be polite in French bought me enough good will and sympathy that I was able to communicate without getting rude looks or annoyed responses. I may have a different experience in the French countryside - less tourists, less patience? - but I was pleasantly surprised the whole time.