Google has made a significant expansion to its Google Translate platform by adding 110 new languages, including eight from Africa. This move underscores Google’s commitment to supporting underrepresented languages and amplifying voices across the continent.
New African Languages Added
The newly added African languages are:
- Kikongo from Central Africa
- Luo, Swati, and Venda from East Africa
- Fon and Wolof from West Africa
- Swati and Ndebele from Southern Africa
This addition is part of Google’s 1,000 Languages Initiative, which utilizes AI models to support the 1,000 most spoken languages worldwide. This initiative represents a significant step towards breaking down language barriers and fostering communication across diverse cultures.
Existing Support for African Languages
The new inclusions join an already robust list of African languages supported by Google Translate, including:
- Hausa
- Igbo
- Yoruba
- Fulani
- Kanuri
- Tiv
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Google’s Commitment and Mission
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager for West Africa, emphasized Google’s mission to enable everyone, everywhere, to understand the world and express themselves across languages. He stated, “With the addition of these 110 new languages, including many from Africa, we’re opening up new opportunities for over half a billion people to connect and communicate.”
Complexities in Language Selection
Kola-Ogunlade explained the complexities involved in language selection, noting that many languages do not have a single, standard form. Therefore, Google prioritizes learning the specific dialects that are most commonly spoken in each area. This approach ensures that the most used varieties of each language are supported, making the tool more practical and useful for everyday communication.
Technological Advancements
The latest expansion leverages the PaLM 2 large language model, following the addition of 24 languages in 2022 using Zero-Shot Machine Translation. This advanced technology enables Google Translate to learn languages that are closely related or have various distinct dialects. Google collaborated extensively with native speakers to ensure accuracy and prioritize the most commonly used varieties of each language.
Global Impact
The addition of these 110 new languages caters to over 614 million speakers worldwide, covering about 8 percent of the world’s population. This includes:
- Major world languages with over 100 million speakers
- Languages spoken by small Indigenous communities
- Languages undergoing revitalization efforts
Conclusion
Google’s expansion of Google Translate to include more African languages highlights its dedication to fostering inclusivity and improving communication across diverse cultures. By supporting underrepresented languages, Google is opening up new opportunities for millions of people to connect and communicate, thereby contributing to a more interconnected and understanding world.