Welcome, aspiring polyglot! Apple recently released new earphones with the power to “translate all types of conversations” in as close to real time as is possible when not happening in real time, like a real conversation would. Most people are probably, eventually, going to use them. Choosing not to, therefore, is what will set you apart in nearly every aspect of life.
Theory
In theory, the ability to speak to and understand anyone anywhere around the world is great. In fact, that is the end goal of learning languages. Easy communication without having to spend months or years mastering new writing systems and speech patterns sounds wonderful. Much like Apple revolutionized the world of music, this could revolutionize business, travel, and relationships.
By opening up the world at the touch of a button you can use the time you saved by not learning a new language to master any number of other skills. Not only that, but everyone else who was considering learning a new language can do the same thing. Theoretically this is an incredible opportunity that almost everyone should be taking advantage of as soon as possible.
Removing barriers of entry for international business, opening up universities around the world for integrated global competition, and creating more opportunity than ever within the dating market. All of these things delivered by a pair of earphones made by Apple. That would all be incredible, if theory were applicable outside of a controlled environment.
Practice
Let alone the fact that a large portion of the conversations you have will not be with one person, especially in a business environment, the way “real time” is defined must be quite specific to be true. For example, in German the secondary verb MUST come last. Which means if the translation is actually happening real time, it will be almost impossible for the headphones to be accurate since the second verb in English does not come last.
One must then also take into consideration how often people butcher their native languages. Robotic error combined with human error is a recipe for disaster that is far worse than you just making minor mistakes in a language you are learning. In large part because people expect mistakes from someone who is speaking a second language, but perhaps more perilously, people expect perfection from robots.
The last thing you want to do when traveling or dipping your toes into the waters of international business is put yourself in a box. Yes, you will likely be able to get away with speaking to and understanding someone, but the minute someone comes who actually does speak both languages, you will be cast aside. In a way, you mark yourself as someone who will take the easy out when it is offered and, consciously or subconsciously, that will speak volumes to your interlocutor.
Head first into reality
Making mistakes is part of the human experience. However, when technology malfunctions it is one of the most frustrating things in the world. Particularly if there is a period of time where you experience it working flawlessly. The problem you face with technology like “realtime translation” is that it is relying on far too many things to go right.
First, you have to speak your native language perfectly. Second, your counterpart also needs to speak their native language perfectly. Slang could cause major issues which means any words that may have shifted in definitions need to be used exclusively in situations where the original definition is applicable. Without that, you run the risk of using a term that could be incredibly offensive or, more likely, something that makes absolutely no sense in the provided context.
Beyond the mistakes that are all but inevitable, technology can die. Imagine you are an hour into an incredible conversation. Nothing has failed and the conversation has flowed smoothly the entire time. Then, all of a sudden, your headphones die. The conversation was going so well that you waited to order your food so, thirty seconds after your headphones die, your food arrives.
Now, after having experienced the best of what this new technology has to offer, you get to experience the very constraints that make it nothing more than a band-aid. Wherever there is an intermediary, the relationship will suffer. That includes robots. Real relationships require unfiltered, uninhibited conversations that simply cannot be replicated through translation.
Anyone who has ever dated, and especially those who have married, someone who speaks a native language different from their own can attest to this. Authenticity is going to become an even more valuable asset than it already is as people continuously outsource their ability to think to AI. It is already happening to millions around the world and, because of that, it will be easier than ever to stand out in the future. All you have to do is choose the work.
Conclusion
No matter how far this technology advances, making the effort and taking the time to learn a new language will always set you apart from those who choose to take the easy path. The studies on cerebral atrophy are already coming out and the results are terrifying. A world where we only hear things spoken by the same robotic voice is something that sounds incredibly dystopian to me.
Building the future that you want is never going to be easy. It requires waking up every single day and deciding that who you were last week was not good enough, but that that person has the opportunity to be great. Deciding that you have the opportunity to become great, and seizing it. It will be difficult, but you can do difficult things and those things will make you great, so get started now. I am rooting for you.
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I fear that many will rush to use these. Imagine a future day when most if not all use this to communicate and they suddenly stop working. This is giving me an idea for a dystopian, or better yet, a horror story!