What will be the future of language learning?
By diamania
@diamania (7011)
Netherlands
December 27, 2010 5:42am CST
It wouldn't surprise me if, in the future, we don't need to learn languages anymore but always have our own translation gadget and software with us giving 100% correct translations.
Wouldn't it be cool? We could just talk to people without the pains and all the effort it takes to learn languages. Mylot would be accessible even for those who don't speak English. Those who do speak English but not to fluent would then be able to communicate even easier.
Imagine the future of language learning, how do you think it will look like?
5 responses
@ricextreme (964)
• Ecuador
28 Dec 10
As I like reading, I've always liked to read literature in English. I used to learn a lot of new vocabulary and how to write in English, but sometimes I didn't know how to pronounce certain words, but now I additionally listen to the audiobook, so I read and listen at the same time. That way I can learn new vocabulary while I learn how to pronounce the new words.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
27 Dec 10
I certainly would hate to see the street lingo considered part of our primary language. I am all for shortcuts while texting but in writing I see it as a really bad shame.
Why do we have to stoop to low levels simply to gain attention. 
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
30 Dec 10
And it is a bad shame. If I would be using all kinds of shortcuts and terms I would make it only harder for myself so I don't do that. Those who use slang make it only harder for others to understand what they're blabbering, especially for me. I am totally not into this street language scene.
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
27 Dec 10
It would be really amazing that someone could create the perfect translator, as the ones that exist nowadays are incredibly poor and the translations they create are nonsense most of the times. The problem is that creating a really good translation is something really difficult, as the same word can have very different meanings depending on the context, and there are some expressions that exist in one language but don't exist in other languages. Also, a machine can't really read the context that's going on in the moment of a conversation, so I think that it would be really unconvenient, as we would have to be caring more about inputting data than about having a real conversation.
I'm more pro-learning languages and being able to speak naturally instead of depending on machines 
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
27 Dec 10
I hope we don't get that far... what would happen to literature? Or to all the people who express themselves with such grace in their mother tongue (not just writers, people who are fluent and elegant in their speech - I don't think a machine would ever do them justice).
If we all stop learning foreign languages, then we'll have to rely exclusively on machines and a group of scholars who will continue to study languages... and that is a bad idea. Scholars are notoriously unreliable, they'll probably take a lot of liberties and mess with the rules until the translation machines would stop functioning completely.
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
30 Dec 10
Yeah but on the other hand, with the need to learn more and more languages also comes a learning limit in sight. We can't just keep on learning new languages. It's already hard enough for me to cope with English as a second language. Imagine if I'd need to learn a third language and fourth. I had to learn 4 languages simultaneously on school a few years ago and I failed miserably. It was just too much. Those who are able to learn 4 languages simultaneously spoke English so terribly that I laughed at them in front of their face.
We'll see what the future brings. :)
