Can a Pocket Translator Beat a Real Translator? We Tested It. | WSJ

Can a device replace the need to learn a new language? WSJ asked Alex Rawlings, author of “How To Speak Any Language Fluently,” and an expert in over 15 languages, to test out the new Pocketalk S Voice Translator on the streets of Barcelona.

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[dashingmay]

"Do you know the weight of the cathedral?"

[faridjafari]

I think the best concept is instead of making a translator device, we should make a translator software which can be installed on mobile phones and computers and it can constantly be updated, corrected and made better through connection with internet.

[MisterRoman]

Something tells me Google translator could do the job better

[ThierryTiramisu]

Here's your answer: "NO". 6:20 :)

[judysavin]

Loved that you actually demonstrated use in different situations. Probably won’t get as we don’t travel internationally very much.

[xinovirprince]

I'm an English to Spanish, Spanish to English translator. My clients never understand pocket translators so they still rely on me to translate. I also have to frequently correct pocket translators including other translators like Google translate.

[ThierryTiramisu]

Seriously? Just remember..
Betteridge's law of headlines
An adage that states: "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no." 😂

[_spade_eye]

Me after learning some french words - I am somewhat a polyglot myself.😎

[tejbirsingh]

Thank you. I was thinking of getting a pair of ear pods that can translate and this review gives me idea of what to look for in a translator.

[mijalic]

Great presentation. Thank you for the time and effort you took to make this video and share it with us. Greetings from Croatia. ps what you think about device 1 year later?

[wayne]

A hospital we’ve been to uses a service that they call when they need to converse with non English patients. They get a human on the other side that would translate in real time. Nothing beats humans when it comes to languages. These gadgets are only good for simple stuff. 299 with data isn’t so bad if you travel frequently but I would have just used google translate. Most people working at tourist spots these days understands basic English and a lot of non English tourists do speak English to a certain degree. I would be surprised if they are actually turning a profit on this thing.

[grod]

I chuckled at the weight of the Cathedral

[theoryg]

Thank you for this. Worth knowing about:)

[gongjimein]

Using this device professionally, I have to coach people to try not to speak "normal". Keep it simple, try not to be too long-winded, and be as short with your statements. With that being used, it has been EXTREMELY helpful on scenes as a paramedic. I ask very simple medical questions, but I do admit that about 30% of the time I use it to translate "Hey, call someone on your phone that speaks English to help us communicate with one another". We do have language line, but it has been extremely connection dependent since COVID. My guess is that it is probably because the translators began WFH and they have bad internet connections or equipment.

[thomasp__]

You should have tried it out in Italy, where not even us Italians understand most of the other dialects

[alimfuzzy]

Remember the technology is really new... when I went to Italy, Google translate worked fine, and even the older people knew what it was and how to use.

But imagine how good this technology will be in 10-15 years time.

[SoCalFreelance]

At any rate it shows a brighter future ahead for international travel.

[hairmyanmar]

Can also use for (oversea)phone call voice can translate two ways that i want we want???

[bismarkbizmark]

I downloaded a free translation app for a Japan trip and for basic practical communication it seemed to work better than the device in this video.

[damamamamam]

I have no idea who is going to buy translators of this quality but I hope these kinds of translators get better as other technologies.