Would learning a second language for business, now be a waste of time?

2 points·rjromero··6 comments

I predict within 5 years we will have near instant, even more accurate translation services and apps. And 10 years, probably babelfish-like devices.

What do you guys think?

View on HN

I think you're over-optimistic. Human language is extremely nuanced and tricky to get right, and highly contextual. There's no substitute for human understanding.

Basically what you're claiming is human-equivalent AI in 10 years. No way. Ordering in restaurant? Sure. Business negotiation? You really don't want to do that via translation. Even human translation will miss things.

Yup you've nailed it, the nuances in a language are vast. Tone,culture, popular media, common jokes add up to a ridiculous combination of possible meanings.

Imagine the awkwardness in picking up girls with a translation app, let alone do business. You will get better deals if you speak the language.

^^^ This. Do you think a bunch of executives are going to be sitting around a boardroom with their iphones? Do you think a client wants to be taken out to dinner or a bar and talk the whole time through an app?

The mere existence of the idea that foreign language interaction can be completely replaced by software proves what most outside the tech sector already know: tech people live in a delusional bubble where human interaction and real society do not matter.

no. even human translation doesn't work as good as being able to communicate in a language yourself. machine translation is awesome and it would become a useful tool for rudimentary stuff, but that's it

Waste of time, considering the advancement.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com