Why a machine translation tool for OBM ?

While English has emerged as the de facto language in various regions, it remains much more efficient to use the local language whenever a greater impact in communication is sought. In European countries, Japan, China, or Latin America for instance, it is crucial to use the local language. So it becomes very important that a language translator service is used so that language no more becomes a barrier in effective communication.

Besides, preserving the local idioms is a prominent stage to any attempt at safe keeping the cultural heritage of any human community. Each language is the vehicle for a unique way of thinking, a unique literature, and a unique view of the world. If the present rate of disappearance continues, within our century, our 6000 modern languages could be reduced to just a few hundred. Therefore, such a tool could help maintain an interest in all of them by providing an alternative way of communication which doesn’t require people to learn one of the 170 predominant languages, risk impoverishing theirs, and ultimately, kill them.

Furthermore, given that people (still) differ in language, religion, and ethnicity, the only alternative to tyranny or genocide is for people to learn to live together in mutual respect and tolerance. Linguistic intolerance is by no means the least frequent of all prejudices : the French forbid speaking breton in Brittany, the Japanese forbid uchina guchi on Okinawa island, Qin Shi Huang established the first unified Chinese state in 221 BC notably by the forced standardization of the Chinese language, the US government punished the use of any of the former 187 indian languages by means of physical abuse and humiliation. Therefore, promoting a tool which preserves the cultural variety of our common heritage is, ultimately, to promote peace.

Finally, the socio-economic impact of an improved respect and integration of some obscure language does not only narrow to job searching and job skills for those minorities, but rather addresses a larger issue of cultural disintegration. These communities have been told for so long that their language and everything else about their culture are worthless, that they now seek an americanized life-style wherever they live, be it on an Amazon river bench, or in a oasis in the midst of an unforgiving desert. The cost to our governments, in the form of welfare, health insurance, or ecological imbalance and disasters, are enormous.

Using a language translation service goes way beyond reducing the possibilities of misunderstandings that may arise from communication problems. It actually opens new ventures into solving some of the greatest challenges Humanity has yet to overcome in this Century.

Linagora contributes to the ITEA2 project proposal 11032 "Multi Lingual Video Conferencing" by leading the software architecture work-package.