Language translation app

What type of device do you have. My husband has a Samsung phone and tablet and was able to use his Italian/English app well without wifi or a SIM card. I couldn't do the same with my iPad.

dr,

Yes, it should work as the App will reside in the phone, and it doesn't matter which SIM you're using.

One of the best App's is Google Translate but none of the language app's provide a perfect translation and in some cases they provide an incorrect translation (I've been told that when testing them with native French or Italian speakers). However, they can usually get the meaning across.

The "best" language translation App is the one sitting on top of your shoulders. It's always a good idea to learn a few of the polite words in the countries you'll be visiting.

Google Translate will work off line - you don't need a connection at all

When you use the apps, and I recommend Google translate as well, use simple sentences, avoid slang terms and idioms. Try speaking like a third grader!

I have played with translation apps, from voice recognition, to photo recognition, to type in or pick a phrase. They all do something, maybe even work well in a simple or test situation, but all but fail in real world application with the exception of ones that speak or display a translation of a scripted sentence or translate single words or simple phrases (deciphering a word or two on a menu)

Much of the problem is that local languages are much more complex and have many more nuances than formal, proper language allows.

Another is lack of a feedback loop, if you say something into a translator, you really do not know if what comes out the other end makes any sense, if you did, you would not need the translator. As a test, try going from another language to english and see the gibberish you get, language is more than the literal translation of a word, it involves structure of the sentence, intent, and tone.

Then the final killer is that messing around with an app is usually way more trouble than trying to simply communicate with a person that very likely has at least a minimum grasp of the English language anyway. In my travels, I simply have not needed it in 99% of the cases.

That said, download the Google Translate app, play with it, it is free so the cost is right, but I suspect after a few days you will rarely access it.

When do you leave? I used Duo Lingo app to learn some Italian and also watched a few YouTube videos. This one was my favorite YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6pcFWUZcEU&ebc=ANyPxKqBzba3DWOahwpDJWk89sRriGP0fbetP4ylMLBDIdvetce96bvZfGPG3QpC8JhvViLSIAXySJPxKn9K7QcXPJgqmIkQQQ

The biggest problem with translator apps is people try to use them for complex sentences. So instead of saying:

"Do you know where the library is?" or "Can you tell me where the library is?"

Say:

Where is the library, please?

Keep it simple for best results

so i know i'm not the sharpest tool in the shed however, i turned my wifi and cellular off on my phone. I have google translate on my phone ( who knew? ) i have an I phone 6. The translate does not work without cellular being on. is there an app that would work offline? Thanks

Joyce,

The original version of Google Translate for iPhones only operated via cellular data. However, they've now upgraded the App, and you can download off-line versions of the various languages (subject to the memory capacity of your phone, of course). Have a look at this website....

http://www.zdnet.com/article/google-translate-now-works-offline-on-iphone-in-app-translation-comes-to-android/

Ken,
Thank you. It appears I had updates for the app which i updated and then I did find the offline download and it now works. This is fantastic as I cannot eat cheese and just about everything in Italy has cheese in it, on it etc. My husband and I are going to southern Italy and Pulgia this fall. I was told not a lot of English speaking Italians in those areas so now I can translate no cheese please. Of course they make think i'm crazy but oh well.

Thanks, everybody, for your helpful replies. I am practicing some basic Italian and verbs, nouns and phrases I think I will need, but it would help to have a translator for less simple phrases.