#6 News English

 Google Translate - Level 5  

Google added 24 languages to its translation service, bringing the total number to 133. Google Translate is an indispensable tool. It conveniently and quickly translates vocabulary and texts into other languages. The 24 new languages are spoken by more than 300 million people. Among them are indigenous languages of the Americas. Google started its first translation service in 2006. It has continually added to the number of languages. Google said it still has a way to go. There are 7,000 languages worldwide that Translate doesn't translate.

Translate needs a large amount of linguistic data to support a language. Google explained how new technology helped to add the new languages. It said: "Up until a couple of years ago, it simply was not technologically possible to add languages like these, which are what we call a low resource – meaning that there are not very many text resources…for them." Google hopes to support languages used by large populations. It also wants to provide assistance for indigenous languages that are often overlooked by technology.

Good words to learn 

1.indispensable  (adj.) 必不可少的，必須的

Something or someone that is indispensable is so good or important that you could not manage without it, him, or her.

• This book is an indispensable resource for researchers.

           這本書是研究人員必不可少的資料。

2.technologically (adv.)技術地，關於（或涉及）技術地

in a way that relates to or involves technology.

• She likes to stay up to date technologically. 

          她喜歡在技術上跟上時代。

3.indigenous (adj.) 當地的；本土的，土生土長的

naturally existing in a place or country rather than arriving from another place.

• So who are the indigenous people of this land?

           那麼誰是這塊土地的原住民？