I've been thinking about universal translators lately. Ya know, those things on Star Trek that allow communication between two people that speak two different languages.

I've seen stuff around — not lately, though — that says most stuff on Star Trek, such as warp technology, are actually plausible inventions that we may actually invent in the future. I've been wondering if such a device could ever be invented. Is such a device even plausible?

Thanks in advance.

- Peace, Love, Health, and Happiness to all! Âðelwulf.

P.S. This is weird . . . My first time in the SciFi forum . . .

You've read around that website belonging to the guy who was against esperanto?
(I cant remember where it is or who he was) cos he muses about translators somewhere.

As for it being plausible, I dont know, I am useless at languages.

Let's invent the babelfish.

You've read around that website belonging to the guy who was against esperanto?
(I cant remember where it is or who he was) cos he muses about translators somewhere.

Ya mean this site (http://www.xibalba.demon.co.uk/jbr/ranto/) I link to in this thread?

Btw, TheMatrixIsReal, that is truly amazing! I suppose it is plausible.

I always liked the Farscape translator microbs. It's nano tech that changes the way your brain functions so that you can understand all languages.

Would something like that be a plausible invention, Mr. Coffee?

Nano tech is very real. Just type it into Google.

It’s more probable than a device in your ear (Star Trek), or a fish that lives in your ear (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy).

StarGate SG-1 has solved the problem of universal translators. They just have all the aliens speak English. Perfect English.

Nano tech is very real. Just type it into Google.



Nanotech is very _hyped_. So far, the most complicated things nanotechnology has brought us, are rather simplistic mechanical devices.

What is nanotechnology going to deliver that an implanted chip with a neural interface can't? Remember the chip could eventually run an AI program, so what advatage does 'nanotechnology' have?

http://www.xibalba.demon.co.uk/jbr/lingo.html

Thats the page I'm talking about.

As for nanotech, I entirely agree with phlogistician (despite his name). In order to change the way your brain functions so that you can understand all languages (is that every language everywhere or merely every one that the inventors of these magical nanites have come across so far?) would involve rearranging neuronal connections, and an intimate ie molecular level comprehension of what each neuron does and means and is connected to. Plus you have to know how language structure is reflected in the brain, if it even is or not. And your nanites have to be able to work alongside and within cells in the brain without ever actually starving any of them to death or suchlike. Any attempts at serious SF I write will always have fairly weak nanotech, except for the occaisional one done for fun). That some form of nanotech is possible is demonstrated by ourselves. That this is different from the magical wibble promoted by SF writers is fairly obvious.

I'm sure nanotechnology will bring some benefits, mostly medical. Tiny machines to unclog arteries, repair damaged bones, encourage healing, fight infections etc. But they will be fairly simple machines still.

Nanotechnology that has intelligence however, is stretching things way too far.

Plus you have to know how language structure is reflected in the brain, if it even is or not. And your nanites have to be able to work alongside and within cells in the brain without ever actually starving any of them to death or suchlike.

You assume that super smart aliens would not be able to do this...

Nanotechnology that has intelligence however, is stretching things way too far.
I'm laughing at you.
Think about what you just said. Now can you think up anything very small that exhibits 'intelligent' behaviour? Come now, it's not too difficult.

I think all languages would follow a pattern. *All* the nanites would have to do would be to re-arrange the brain to be more sensitive to linguitic patterns.

You assume that super smart aliens would not be able to do this...
You are assuming that super smart aliens can and do exist. I can assume that God could also do it, and whats more I have written evidence to say he/ she / it can, but would you believe me?

Roman:
First we would have to define intelligence. Are you intelligent?

As for thinking all alnguages would follow a pattern, do you have any language professors agreeing with you there? You presumably know that there are lots of different human languages, with certain paralells of structure and function, but it is still rather hard to make a program that can translate between them all, let alone how the hell you can rearrange the brain to be more sensitive to linguistic patterns without messing things up.

See, keeping this argument on the sensible "science 2004" level makes it comparatively dull. If however you want to speculate like crazy, go ahead, but please make it clearly distinct from any sensibly based predictions.

Just read a wee book which has something to do with intelligent nanotech, its called "stone" by Adam Roberts. Its rather dull, he doesnt write very interestingly written books, but its a bit interesting.

a universal translator wolud have to detect brainwaves and make an image of what the person is thinking about when they speak, monitornig pitch ond tone would nto work with some vulcan-wookie species no-one has studied

Are brain waves connected with what a person is thinking about?

how long would it take for a computer to decode an unknown language?
could it even do that?

if you mean just a translator that translates known languages that would be easy but not sure about an unknown one

anyway I WANA BABLEFISH:p

Universal translators as portrayed in Star Trek are nonesense, even more improbable than the transporter. Even if the grammar and syntax of a new language can be recognised and extrapolated with only a few seconds of speech to go on (which is impossible for human lanuages anyway), the actual meanings of words could not be determined by mere sound analysis. Vocabulary would have to be learned, word by word, which takes a lot of time and interaction regardless of the listener's intelligence.

As for determining meanings by scanning the brain of the speaker - could this be done across a comm channel between separate starships, as it usually seems to be? Not to mention that different alien races would obviously have different cerebral structures.

I'm laughing at you.
Think about what you just said. Now can you think up anything very small that exhibits 'intelligent' behaviour? Come now, it's not too difficult.

Tell you what, why don't _you_ show me a microorganism that has a complex societal structure, that organises itself, has distinct roles in society, and shows signs of using communication! Because I know you can't. But it will be fun watching you try.


I think all languages would follow a pattern. *All* the nanites would have to do would be to re-arrange the brain to be more sensitive to linguitic patterns.


Riiiight, so a really small machine is going to re-arrange someone's brain? Please, this is getting ridiculous.

Riiiight, so a really small machine is going to re-arrange someone's brain? Please, this is getting ridiculous.

Nanotechnology could well restructure the human brain eventually, or at least supplement it. Perhaps it could make a normal, monolingual adult into a genius with perfect phonetic memory, capable of mastering a new language within a few weeks.

But to talk of Star Trek-type instant translation capability remains ridiculuous, I agree.