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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#WSJ #PocketTalk #Translator

[@faridjafari6356]

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.

[@muhammadhr5264]

Google translate

[@thanos2399]

Wifi problems

[@dalee2419]

@@thanos2399 you can download languages

[@tanmaysingh267]

@@thanos2399 Thanos doesn't need wifi😂😂😂😂

[@Random_thoughts49]

Sounds like Ultron

[@dashingmay]

"Do you know the weight of the cathedral?"

[@ヘリオスマーキュリー]

May be tremendously heavy.

[@tomsriver2838]

@@ヘリオスマーキュリー yoh Donald. What's up my man ??

[@sivartb7273]

Sir. Could you please tell me, how long the cathedral was waiting?

[@judysavin1222]

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

[@MisterRoman]

Something tells me Google translator could do the job better

[@gus473]

Thinking you are correct.... 🤔

[@waflletoast11]

translator sucks, i used it in cairo for signs and menus could not identify a thing.

[@hobog]

@@waflletoast11 What better alternative is there? Is it like Chinese preferring non google translators, like Pleco?

[@ClapBoomBoom]

@@hobog I think Chinese language learners use Pleco and not native Chinese speakers themselves. Google Translate can't translate those 4-character idioms as well as Pleco does.

[@QuizmasterLaw]

depends on the language pair and i expect this pockettalk is just a frontend for gtranslate.

[@ThierryTiramisu]

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

[@noahpolicarpio1530]

For basic interactions, yes. Everything else, no :)

[@kushagrakishore933]

Thanks

[@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.

[@xinovir]

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.

[@sam3524]

Maybe in the future they will be more accurate

[@PershingOfficial]

It’s interesting cause out of all the online translators, google translate is not the best yet everyone uses it

[@eri7-11]

I used one of these, similar with Japanese hubby and it could only get the basics most of the time. It was not much better than GT. It has promise but nicer if integrated with phone so I dont have to carry an extra thing

[@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.

[@robertlee8042]

Doesn’t do speech offline despite what everyone says. There is no video on KZbin that shows Google Translate doing speech offline-even after claiming it does.

[@thomasp__]

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

[@arnaup5240]

Because "italian dialects" are languages, intercomprehension is the difference between a language and a dialect

[@_spade_eye6995]

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

[@ominusomega7803]

“Oui oui Baguette” -polyglot

[@TheXavixavieri]

@@ominusomega7803 "donde esta la bibliotheca"- another polygot

[@glipk]

Merci

[@Adam_____________]

Quelle connerie

[@Johanneslol11]

I speak only 3 languages well

[@tejbirsingh5661]

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.

[@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." 😂

[@christopherjuul4890]

Headline: "Can any headline that ends in a question mark be answered by the word no?" :)

[@alezacrespublik6655]

@@christopherjuul4890 Betteridge Paradox of Self Reference?

[@MrEysox]

@@christopherjuul4890 The answer is no since your question is part of "any headline that ends in a question mark".

[@bismarkbizmark5639]

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.

[@grod805]

I chuckled at the weight of the Cathedral

[@nikitazyzura8388]

As espected. Thanks for the test.

[@LeatherneckSears0341]

Two stars . It is not a device that you could use in an emergency situation. translate im allergic to milk but it says I want MORE milk.. then we have a problem .lol

[@EhCloserLook]

If devices like these actually worked, people wouldn’t bother learning foreign languages.

[@bruceh3905]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 I am a stroke survivor, for five years, labeled has ‘mild aphasia’. I had an interview, on Zoom, a few months ago. I watched the video, later, an a ‘app’ to translate it. It was full gibberish on the translation... 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@a.b.8606]

The problem with Arabic is that it has tons of dialects, each totally different from each other. Each Arab country has their own dialect which all stem from fluent Arabic. So you can still use the machine, but if the person replies with a dialect, it will fail. It will only understand and translate fluent Arabic.

[@HamedAlgabbani]

Imagine when this technology becomes perfect and you can have the chip in ur brain to work! U can speak and understand any language pretty much!

[@PHlophe]

wallah, this is scary. I already its not going to include one of the languages i was born speaking. there is only around 20k of us native speakers left.

[@mwanikimwaniki6801]

@@PHlophe Ala!... Which language?

[@PHlophe]

@@mwanikimwaniki6801 the language is iSiphuthi. I taught my sons the language when it became clear we'd be the last ones standing.

[@mwanikimwaniki6801]

@@PHlophe Wait. Is it south African?

[@PHlophe]

@@mwanikimwaniki6801 it is .

[@kliaw9266]

It's interpreted NOT translated.

[@QuizmasterLaw]

i'm just lurking here waiting for some computer programmer to say some stupid joke about interpreted javascript

[@LucasSoares-mh2nz]

The stock exchange of mexico will collect profits from those who earn another 30 million dollars

[@JoshuaBabasa]

I think it's the other way around, it's translated, not interpreted.

[@QuizmasterLaw]

@@JoshuaBabasa wrong. interpretation is when spoken language said in language A is then interpreted into language B by an interpreter so that C can understand it. B understands A and C's languages, unlike A and C

[@QuizmasterLaw]

@@JoshuaBabasa translation in contrast refers to written works, only. they're related but really different. I'm a translator, not an interpreter.

[@SoCalFreelance]

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

[@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.

[@theoryg]

Thank you for this. Worth knowing about:)

[@zennabella1676]

THANKS FOR THE UPLOAD, YOU SEEM NICE AND HONEST. I DONT KNOW IF I WILL BUY A LANGUAGE TRANSLATOR NOW. I WAS HOPING TO FIND ONE WHERE I COULD SAY A FULL SENTENCE IN ENGLISH AND HAVE IT TRANSLATE TO JAPANESE WITH MY ONLINE FRIEND. MAYBE LONG SENTENCES IN SPEECH WONT WORK TOO WELL FOR WHAT I WANT.

[@hidden2444]

Actually it work well for basic conversation of tourist's..

[@auro1986]

first advertisement of a product that is not a phone by wsj

[@mijalic1]

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?

[@bembs0256]

4:58 and 5:02 His reaction is priceless 😂

[@CarlLjungquist]

Looks similar to self-driving problems. It should improve over time if it has a self-correcting process built in.

[@PHlophe]

Onkel Carl, its not even needed.

[@rishi1030]

Pocketalk: *Exists* WSJ: I'm going to end this whole man's career.

[@keanu4489]

This will definitely improve in the future, we've done it before.

[@wayne8797]

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.

[@scarletdragon1019]

Lol I'm actually working at one of those interpreter's companies now

[@arielleung3917]

The thing is that the research field of machine learning is largely centralized in Anglophone countries. Translating models are mostly published with test results of English. However, many languages in this world have much more complicated structures.

[@PHlophe]

Ariel, there is no such a thing as a "more complicated" language,. if you are native its de facto easy, its just some linguistic structures just don't have equivalents in other languages. the tool that will always be missing translation that can be adjusted and adapted to the other party. not straightforward word for word translation.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

@@PHlophe THANK you for correcting ariel's stupid use of the phrase "more complicated language". It's just different. That's all.

[@sh8kit]

“Jaime Primero” I think was the confusion for the device…it says “Jamie’s place” when he meant 1st of Jamie as the street name. that was totally left out with the translator

[@theprofessional155]

Well a cathedral probably weighs thousands of tons

[@ItzChickenYall]

Wow, I have never been first to comment on a verified youtuber’s comment!

[@novacolonel5287]

This is kind of relieving. Still some way to go before it's actually useful.

[@lucianobarrantes]

Will be done by all smartphones soon

[@avijitkabiraj2187]

Read comedy of coffin on kindle written by Avijit Kabiraj. Introduction : Two unemployed boys were employed by a mafia boss, their job is to bury a dead chef in the criminal's cemetery. The chef is the pasta maker whom the boss accidentally shot dead. The boys were chased by the police, shot by a sniper, rested in a church, kidnapped by an evil doctor, electrocuted, freezed, roasted, couple of ladies didn't spare them, survived the strange graveyard but when they returned after burying the dead chef, found the boss in a coffin...

[@QuizmasterLaw]

On the tech side this device is most likely an android (linux) frontend for google translate or maybe bing translate. Briefly: machine translation still sucks. It will never get idioms right. However, some language pairs are better than others. Most MT esen is good, and most MT encn is bad.

[@КристиянПавлов-й5р]

Happy 18,630,120 subs in 5 years!!!

[@dusscode]

Use the Translator app in iOS 14.

[@raifullah7175]

thanks

[@adobotravels]

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart. - Mandela

[@andrewbaker4652]

I'll just keep learning and practicing languages. Its more fun to interact directly with different cultures than through a device. If you are only interested in being a tourist, devices and apps like this are/will be fine.

[@enzyme181]

I think the device could help someone learn a language faster that they are already studying. Like my sister learned spanish quickly by watching spanish tv while my mom translated what she didnt understand. You would eventually learn the language because you will start to remember the words. But some languages have a few backward phrases like in english you'd say, green grapes but in spanish it would be worded, grapes green.

[@biggiechiquito5573]

“Ahora mismo”--> “right now” - weird. Lol it should be: right away :) I’d probably get confused and think she was asking whether I wanted the drink in that particular moment.

[@Win100n]

Most apps installed on smartphones can do this language translation equally well and for free.

[@juliaalato841]

What the point to have it if we have DeepL on a phone? Please, can someone explain the sense

[@earthcomedy]

Fluentalk T1 works OFFLINE. DeepL doesn't do VOICE conversations.

[@henryjraymondiii961]

Actually, although I am sure you are a polyglot, you DO (honestly) have a thick British accent. To someone from, say Detroit -- Eye ahssked hem (etc.) Might sound a bit like you made a funny face about his garments' stiching! Not true misunderstanding, but do accents matter--even to electronic translation? Yes, enough to expect major strides in this arena to the extent that it quickly comes close to human talent...expect this. I see that some other comments do--that is appropriate, yes. By the way--actually speaking any languages well or attempting that is so very admirable. Thank you.😊

[@alexm566]

Touchscreen is a bad idea when it's raining and you're asking for directions or trying to take a photo..

[@supportbmf9113]

Dont expect this device to know the names of the places or landmarks in cities or towns unless it is connected intelligently with the google map. Plus it may not be able to pick up certain words when being pronounced by certain people for instance non native english speaker may sound a little bit different when saying english words as compared to native english speaker. The best is to ask the other party to slow down when talking to the device. It is not meant for biz meeting. It s for simple language and it helps for tourists or people on a round the world trip....people will never get satisfied....just invent ur own device, guys, if u think u can do much better

[@alparslankorkmaz2964]

Nice video.

[@engineeringartist4801]

Do you know the way to the cathedral? Sure, it's one thousand eight hundred tons.

[@cj1614]

Imagine saying you'll put someone's mother in the hospital or something

[@gavinthecrafter]

I think if I were to go to a foreign country, I'd probably learn a little bit of the native language first.

[@Heather_corcoran]

So basically we’re not using AI yet in this space. This is no different than Google Translate’s “Conversation” capability. I need a real way to have phone conversations and verbal in-person conversations, in different languages, QUICKLY. Not pausing to show the person the translation. We should be able to each use our headphones, connected to our phones over WiFi, and have immediate translation, with maybe a 1-3 second lag. We have the technology, the question is, who’s going to be the first and best time market with it?

[@Kjleed13]

You didn’t test if the device can read written languages

[@paranoidhumanoid]

Pocketalk works, but both speakers have to speak standard dialects of their respective languages. Both speakers must enunciate and avoid using slang or abbreviated words. If the first Spaniard had said clearly "cuando llegas a la altura/cima de Jaume/Jaime Primero" or "cuando llegas al punto alto de la calle Jaume/Jaime Primero" it would've translated it perfectly.

[@mirdnb]

Thats nice, but does anyone know option of live translation from audio to text in real time? That’s lot better option for meetings and it’s not disruptive.

[@pequeno1114]

Say please when You ask something to the people, respect the people.

[@seav80]

In Barcelona but testing with Spanish instead of Catalan.

[@Curious_Skeptic]

Maybe, another 5 years before this actually works in real time. 🤔

[@BestFilmproducer]

The hardest and most important thing to translate in any language is body language, which is NOT universal. Every language has their own.

[@alex3261]

Some more useless e-junk that will end up in the trash can. A waste of resources and more damage for the environment.

[@PHlophe]

up e-junk pretty much. cos folk don't wanna use their brains anymore

[@Newuser886]

Did Pocket Translator pay WSJ to do a review on their YT channel?

[@pengguo559]

I think most recipients knew what he meant BEFORE the translator...I think it might be more just if it’s between two non-English speakers

[@constantinekoritsas7061]

why does this require data instead of downloading the language to use offline like Google Translate can

[@hermes8258]

"cellular data"? I thought out was satellite (and this requires no registration)

[@richardkeith9490]

Could it be the traffic noise that is interrupting it understanding ur accent

[@nomirevideoseninglesporfav1364]

What a complete misconception. Being a translator does not mean you are a language expert.

[@ReasonNotFightFlight]

Learning a language will always earn more respect than carrying an expensive translation device.

[@Romanchan-dg8nm]

That is an subjective opinion, we can learn basic words but a translator is a vital tool

[@bonaaq86]

@@Romanchan-dg8nm What he said is not even subjective, learning will always be better than using a device, it can help if you have no other options of course, but the more niche the language or slang the harder is going to be to translate it

[@khankrum1]

i@@bonaaq86 It is subjective! Do you happen live in another country? It takes time to learn another language, especially when you are elderly!

[@JulianDiemOfficial]

what do they mean with "noise cancelling microphone"

[@MikeyLikesIt89]

I would like to see the same test on the iPhone translator

[@CorporateShill]

Google translate?

[@MikeyLikesIt89]

@@CorporateShill google translation is garbage

[@CorporateShill]

@@MikeyLikesIt89 so’s the Apple one

[@arnaup5240]

The first is a south-american, the second guy is a catalan speaker talking spanish, and arabic dialects are like languages, one from moroco wouldn't be able to understand an egyptian, imagine a program...

[@Azknowledgethirsty]

To be honest, most people are able to speak standard Arabic which is the formal and educated language Standard Arabic for most Arabic speakers is like a second language, albeit an easy one, except for Egyptians who think their accent is already standard when it isn't

[@arnaup5240]

@@Azknowledgethirsty sorry , but I doubt that the knowledge of standard arab is so spread.

[@quisqueyanguy120]

South American spanish is not so different from Castellan Spanish, is like the difference between British English and Canadian English, it is still the same language and most people understand each other just fine.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

How do we (who do not know this language) know that the "real human translators" words are the "correct" version and the handheld electronic translators' words are the "approximation"? Maybe it's the handheld electronic translator's translation that is the correct one and the human translator who is at fault.

[@abdullah.a.nahyan]

This technology is still in the nascent stage, as aircraft in the 1920s. However, it will surely be a dealbreaker by 20 or so years from now!

[@drmacsika]

I'm stuck between deciding if this is an ad or a criticism of a futuristic approach to living.

[@bobcatdidi8188]

both?

[@factfinder9718]

Some is help is better than no help at all. The device will evolve for aure

[@monos70]

"Jaime's height" LOL!!

[@McBain2024]

The best bit of technology since Apple released the Newton

[@ThaiIsland]

The recording part would probably give me anxiety since I would be taking up another person’s time. Is there a male voice?

[@jjw238]

Guess we still can’t build another Tower of Babel yet.

[@FernandoGarcia-xi3ds]

she said "the weight" instead of "the way"😹 3:00

[@MdJosimuddinSk-j4b]

Just simple use tourist guide. Machine is a machine.

[@Nihan19991]

wow its like asking an artist to test out ai image generator that probably will make him lose his job soon. 💀

[@DP-hy4vh]

Another Star Trek prediction comes true.

[@kerenbanget1]

google app has this live translator feature

[@Ravi-ot6xj]

oh God, the dude needs to clip his nails for real at 2:26

[@ricardosoca7380]

I'm sorry but having a different device for every different task is so early 2000s. Why wouldn't you just use an app on you smartphone instead? $299 is quite a steep price tag as well, especially considering it didn't even pass test 2 let alone test 3

[@hairmyanmar7048]

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

[@diariosdelextranjero]

This looks interesting.

[@keanu4489]

5:08 cracked me up.

[@samaval9920]

Translators are programmed for informal? semi formal)? sociolinguistic register level(?) NIT ( yet?) include highly formal? slag, vulgar, & swear levels of each language? Can one program these different versions of same ? Can they handle unspoken implied meanings? Hopefully soon,

[@chonchan12]

Im sorry but this is the same thing as google translate and it’s free. I used google translate when I was in Turkey and it worked pretty fine. There were some misunderstandings here and there but for pretty much most transactions, I had very few problems. Not worth the money

[@ChrisGirard]

Would it have been better at translating Catalan in Barcelona instead of Castillian Spanish? The Spanish spoken in Barcelona has more of a regional accent than Spanish in Madrid. Also if the device has voice input, voice output, a camera and it looks like a smartphone, why isn't it just an app? 🤔

[@thepsychicspoon5984]

Most translation apps have no difference in dialect. All Spanish is the same according to the majority of these apps. Its terrible.

[@noahyu5788]

wait until they find out about google translate

[@TimN-5]

I will continue to just use Google translate on my phone when traveling and in a bind.

[@PershingOfficial]

Have you ever tried Microsoft translator?

[@kaiosama1237]

This device has been replaced by an app: Google Translate

[@elguerojusticiero]

its crazy it couldnt translate "a tu mano izquierda" into "on your left hand side" every spanish speaking country says it the same.