Nowadays, the development of technology has allowed computers and mobiles to translate language automatically. Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
VERY SIMILAR TO 72 FROM OUR BOOK
Because computers can translate all kinds of languages quickly and accurately, so learning foreign languages is a waste of time? Do you agree or disagree?
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Advancement in translation technology (e.g. computers) will make unnecessary to learn new language. Do you think this development has more advantages than disadvantages?
It is be believed that the swift progress in technological development allows computers and mobile devices to perform automatic language translations. Even though machine translation has made communication more accessible the drawbacks of depending entirely on it surpass its benefits.
There are many advantages of machine translation. It provides fast and convenient translation at little to no cost. Google translate and similar tools allow users to access information in multiple languages. This has overcome language barriers for academic research, travel planning and daily communication. Machine translation can handle multiple languages whereas human translators can only master a few. This makes it an efficient tool for basic personal and professional use.
However, despite these advantages, there are many limitations to machine translation. Firstly, machine translators cannot capture the nuance of the language, and this can lead to miscommunication. Translating a language is a complex process, which involves the meaning, nuances, tone of the expression and understanding the cultural context. A human translator can gauge the underlying tone or emotion of the text, change the structure depending on the language and take care of the subtleties of the language.
Secondly, overreliance on machines for language translation may hinder cognitive development. Research has shown that bilingualism enhances brain performance, improving memory, creativity and problem-solving skills. The cognitive advantages gained from learning new languages could be missed if people depend entirely on translation tools. Moreover, language is intertwined with culture. By learning other languages people become aware of other cultures and their outlook of life broadens.
To sum up, it can be reiterated that even though machine translation provides basic and quick translation capabilities, the drawbacks like loss of meaning, reduced cognitive benefits and cultural disconnection outweigh the advantages.
