Real-time translation of languages will eventually be accomplished through computer technology, eliminating the hindrance that prevents immediate verbal communication among people of different languages. However, as machines provide the ability to digest a foreign vernacular and reproduce it in understandable dialogue, the proverbial barrier of culture, and not necessarily language, is still an issue of impedance. The seemingly miraculous ability of real-time translation will be accompanied by distinct disadvantages as people refrain from learning new languages, allowing instead the machine translation to bridge the gap. Proficiency in assimilating non-verbal cultural nuances, such as mannerisms, gestures and timing, will be required in order to ensure proper interpersonal protocol. These “non-language” distinctions, which I will refer to as cultural expressions, are just as crucial, and in many cases more so, than conventional parlance.

If mutual intelligibility is the basis for classification, there are approximately 6000 languages utilized in the world today. Taking into account second-language speakers, English is the second most widely spoken language, with 418 million speakers (“Language”). The World Wide Web, a consortium of multimedia content delivered over the Internet, presents roughly eighty percent of its information in English (“Alis & Mitsui…”) Assuming the advent of the much-ballyhooed “global village” is upon us, and the Internet acts as a possible staging area, what boundaries are really crossed when users of this supposedly universal network are forced to communicate in English? Several software producers from around the world have succeeded in developing basic translation systems that allow the data that is enjoyed by English speakers to also be of value to non-English users. This effort moves toward solving the problem of Internet communications, but what of interpersonal communications? I refer to those valuable arrangements of face-to-face meetings that are usually considered more effective than electronic or written communication, as evidenced by a general disinterest in videoconferencing and continual increase in business travel.

When held between speakers of different languages, such occasions require real-time verbal translation mechanisms.Currently, these mechanisms are uniquely skilled humans, but, as previously mentioned, the option will ultimately exist for computers to play the role. Given this breakthrough, it might seem that human interpreters would no longer be necessary. In order to be successful, however, the encounters will need an additional protocol catalyst -- someone or something that intercepts, processes and delivers appropriate cultural expressions in addition to proper language interpretation.

With computer-assisted real-time translation, the ability to “understand” a language and reproduce it as the native speaker’s dialect will obviously allow many long-standing barriers to be broken, especially in business, diplomatic concerns and endeavors of tourism. The effect on economics, politics and travel will be severe, with liberties of free expression demonstrating influence in true global fashion, perpetuated by the convenience and expediency of minimum impact, zero-delay interface.In short, real-time computer intervention will make language translation very easy and immediately accessible.Where does that leave human translators and interpreters? Although fluency in a second language is an admirable skill, of what use is it once computers conveniently serve the function as intermediaries?

Learning a second language benefits the speaker with more than just the intellectual aptitude of being able to comprehend and communicate in an alternate tongue.If a language is learned well, it will also provide a robust insight into the culture of which the language originates or is used.In the best scenario, a student would learn from a native speaker who would be familiar not only with the mechanical functions of the language itself, but also the proper protocol and customary nuances -- the cultural expressions -- of the society where the language was primarily engaged. This familiarization with cultural protocol becomes necessary when an individual plans to effectively utilize their skill in an effort to build not only understanding, but also rapport. Insofar as computers being able to accomplish this task, the question becomes Will machines be able to imitate the subtle interface and unspoken gestures that are often just as important to know as the spoken word itself?

I would like to use the example of C-3PO, the android character from the Star Wars movie series, as a model of cultural translator. In Star Wars, Uncle Owen purchased the “droid” with the explicit intent that it would act as a translator. C-3PO definitely qualified, having mastered (e.g. been programmed with) an amazing repertoire of six million forms of communication, not the least of which was machine language. Although this science-fiction marvel amazed us with its seemingly godlike ability to converse with nearly anyone or anything in the universe, what was even more impressive (and often overlooked) was its ability to act as translator of cultural expressions.

Crafting C-3PO in humanoid form fulfilled two purposes.It not only made the machine a more believable and relative character to the audience, but also provided a better interface to other humanoid beings in the movie. C-3PO could have just as easily fulfilled its role had it been a console computer, wearable unit or trashcan-like robot akin to the ever-present sidekick R2D2 (who, it should be remembered, relied on C-3PO as an interpreter). Instead, the quirky golden android exhibited a head, two arms, two legs and a torso that undoubtedly made it more conducive to communication with similarly constructed beings. This literally personified Marshall McLuhan’s famous aphorism, “the medium is the message”, by introducing a utilitarian communicator that conveniently resembled a human.

George Lucas’ creation not only possessed the “dry” capability of routinely deciphering modes of intercourse, but also demonstrated expertise in facilitating proper cultural expression. C-3PO was “especially aware of the subtleties of custom and language among the other cultures” and “particularly versatile, owing in part to his wide variety of experiences … experiences [which have also] given him a distinct, pragmatic and pessimistic personality, making him almost human in his perceptions and feelings” (“Character Profile: C-3PO”). Although the android lacked a completely perfect human visage, it showed great potential as the ultimate translator, both of language and custom. To be most effective and germane, the mechanized implementation of language and cultural translator will have to assume a truly organic and familiar form -- a position for which only humans currently qualify.

Being exposed to Japanese society, I can personally draw on experiences of encounters in that country where fluency in the language took an immediate backseat to knowledge of customs and routines necessary for interaction with natives. Armed with a moderate assortment of phrases and vocabulary words, it was often embarrassing to find that proper application of the language held just as much importance and reverence as knowing it. In short, knowing what to say was not enough … one had to know when to say it. Fortunately, I had an interpreter who could not only rephrase my verbal expressions, but also metamorphose my awkward actions or lack thereof. It is frowned upon to say “hello” to grandma the same way one would say “hello” to the convenience store clerk. My handy Berlitz’ Passport to Japan book provided little insight on proper execution of its indexed idioms and terms.

In the futuristic face of automated language translation, the ability to interpret cultural expressions will be most valuable. In lieu of the expanding framework of exciting new jobs, Cultural Translator might very well become a cutting edge profession. Practitioners would be armed with inherent or mechanized fluency in a language or languages as well as a mastery of cultural expressions, the latter being the niche skill and just as necessary for successful interface with persons of another culture. Since computers would “process the data” (e.g. translate the language), courses should be taught in Cultural Fluency, or the ability to recognize and interpret unspoken formalities and nuances unique to a specific culture – their cultural expressions. Computer-assisted translation capabilities could work as an adjunct to, and not a replacement for, savvy international Cultural Translators. This, of course, would suffice until improved interface could be developed which would allow practically invisible means of implementing mechanized resources to engage in computer-assisted, real-time translation. Predictions have been made that carbon to silicon-based memory transfer will be possible within the next fifty years (Trevelyan). Perhaps within the century, human-based apperception of language and cultural expression will surpass the “primitive” implementations of droids like C-3PO, finally bridging the gap between sentient beings, regardless of their origin and utterance.

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"Character Profile: C-3PO." Star Wars Official Web Site. Available HTTP:http://www.starwars.com/characters/c-3po/. 9 May 1998.

"Language." Microsoft Encarta 97 Encyclopedia. 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation.

Trevelyan, Mark. "Brain-computer link within 50 years-British study." Reuters, 29 May 1995.