Battle of the Babel fish
In July, Australian developers
Lingmo released their answer
to the in-ear translation
software launched by firms
such as Waverly Labs. Its
Translate One2One device
can decode eight languages.
In October, Google got in
on the action with their
wireless real-time translating
headphones, Pixel Buds.
thelinguist.uberflip.com
DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 The Linguist 19
FEATURES
June
Scientists in Memphis announce
they have successfully tested a
brain-boosting drug on mice. It is
shown to enhance adults'
capacity for language learning by
maintaining the brain plasticity
that is usually lost in adolescence.
Harry Potter and the
Philosopher's Stone is released in
its 80th language – Scots – to
celebrate its 20th anniversary.
do you remember?
that was 2017
September
The National Poetry Library
launches a major new project
to collect poetry in thousands
of languages that are at risk of
extinction. Located on London's
Southbank, the library is working
with SOAS to preserve at
least one poem from each
endangered language, with
an English translation, for
future generations.
November
A prize promoting the translation
of female writers into English is
awarded for the first time. The
£1,000 Warwick Prize for Women
in Translation is divided equally
between author Yoko Tawada
and translator Susan Bernofsky for
Memoirs of a Polar Bear.
Did we miss anything? Share your
most memorable 2017 language
stories on Twitter: @Linguist_CIOL.
May
European Commission President
Jean-Claude Juncker addresses a
conference in French because, he
says, "slowly but surely English is
losing importance in Europe".
Artificial Intelligence experts say
machines will be better translators
than amateur linguists by 2024;
while a church in Wittenberg,
Germany, uses a robot priest to
give blessings in eight languages.
October
A report by Ofsted finds that
some children in England never
study a language after the age
of 13, as schools shorten Key
Stage 3 to two years in order to
devote an extra year to the new,
more extensive GCSE curriculum.
Research confirms the 'Dutch
courage' hypothesis that drinking
(some) alcohol improves your
skills in a foreign language.
©
EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT
©
SHUTTERSTOCK
©
SHUTTERSTOCK
CASA DE AMERICA; 9/4/15 FLICKR CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 PRINCETON PUBLIC LIBRARY; 7/4/10 FLICKR CC BY-NC 2.0 DAVID WRIGHT; 8/7/09 FLICKR CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
