language device

Human brain. Everything else stinks.

Only on Star Trek

C-3PO. Fluent in over six million forms of communication.

It is just something else to carry. Most places, especially tourist areas have people who speak English. If you are worried, just learn a few simple words, please thank you etc and you will be fine.

Not worth the money. A good phrase book is a better bet.

You can sort of do that with google translate on an android phone. I was playing with it the other day and saved some phrases. It doesn't get it quite right all the time though. But it is pretty cool technology. Technology will get better and probably in 10 years you can get a little ear piece that will translate automatically.

I thought of this years ago, when I realized we had voice recognition, translation software, and voice synthesis software. But the problem is with the translation software. It's gotten better over the years, but it still "sux". Translation software still has serious problems, with connotation. Sometimes, I have a big piece, multiple paragraphs, to traslate, so put it into Babelfish or Google. Usually, when I see the result, I throw up my hands, laugh, and do it the old fashion way, word for word. Translation software does not understand multiple word meanings very well. So, you stand the chance, that you will say something into the translator and it will say something to the Frenchman on the other end, and he will hit you.

tracy, The best translation device is that wonderful multi-purpose computer sitting on top of your shoulders! As the others have pointed out, the current "state-of-the-art" with translation software leaves a lot to be desired. There are some Electronic Translators on the market that are capable of good speech in other languages, but they're not able to translate spoken responses from the "locals", which may in one of the many European dialects. The English portion has to be typed into the machine though, which takes time. Some products are trying to achieve this type of translation, and one that looks promising is www.jibbigo.com. However I have my doubts on whether a handheld device will have the processing horsepower to achieve realistic functionality. Since you didn't say what prompted the question, my "general purpose" reply would be to use a good Phrasebook, and perhaps take some introductory language courses for the countries you'll be visiting. You'll probably find that most of the people working in the tourist industry can function to some extent in English. Happy travels!

Scotland's Perthshire Brass Band had a problem when they used translation software. They sent me posters to put up in Germany to advertise their coming tour of Europe which read, when translated back from the German to English:
'Subdivide yourselves and come to see Perthshire Alloy of Copper and Zinc. The ribbon will start the tour in the animal's lair of the Hague' (a perfectly good translation of Den Haag!) You will not be without excitement but could be rapidly decreasing.'

If software programs like Babelfish, etc. can't translate properly with typewritten words, there is no way that it will be even close to accurate with the spoken word. I love seeing menus offering delicious items such as: "cattle hips", "cattle broth", "oxen chest", "spicy cockerel chest stripes". The one for the trains, says "step in and out of the train briskly, avoiding the soil stripe". That ought to puzzle the new tourist in town.

or also on menus just the obvious translation of Schweinefleisch as 'pigs flesh' can be a bit off putting. NOT translating a word though can also have its problems as when a dear old lady in a cafe asked my husband in English if he would like a Krapfen.

Funny...I remember the English version (flipside) of a menu in St. Goar, offering a Flesh Fest! Even correctly translated in English, a Meat Fest doesn't sound very appetizing (unless your name is Dr. Lecter). This part of the menu actually listed a bunch of barbeque options.

I recall reading that with a Russian - English one they put in the phrase "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" translated the Russian back into English and got "the vodka is strong and the meat is rotten"

I looked for a good basic "Iphone" translator last year and found "nada" I did load a menu translation for France into my Kindle, but... not really good either!

Star Translate is an app I have on my Droid phone that seems fairly good for the occasional translation. I would never trust it for translating on the go, though.