Learning a Language or Just Machine Translate

TEACHING AND LEARNING 30 Learning a Language or Just Machine Translate By David Shaffer I GWANGJU NEWS, FEBRUARY 2024 n the present day and age with the advent of machine translation, a second-language novice might very seriously consider whether they should embark on the journey of learning a second language (L2) such as English or rely on machine translators instead. It isn’t difficult to understand why they might contemplate relying on machine translation rather than learning the language. After all, a machine translator (MT) spits out a sentence, paragraph, or longer text in just seconds, while manual translation could easily take hours to complete the same task. Moreover, attaining an advanced level of proficiency in an L2 such as English for Korean L1 speakers, takes years and years of dedicated study, but MTs are available as applications online, while MT devices are also readily available. And very importantly to many, MTs such as Google Translate and Naver’s Papago have free versions. Considering these three benefits, why should one not decide on using an MT rather than invest considerable time and energy (and money) into learning an L2 such as English. This article will lay out numerous advantages of learning an L2 over using an MT. Machine Translators Are Not Reliable MTs such as Google Translate and Papago are still far from being 100% reliable. For example, they have trouble with homonyms. If one inputs the Korean equivalent of “The pear in the stomach sank like a ship” (pear, stomach, and ship are homonyms in Korean), the MT output will be nonsensical (see Figure 1). These MTs cannot very well handle long sentences, which Korean is notoriously known for, especially compound sentences containing the connective meo (며). They very commonly give up in mid sentence and scatter a few indecipherable words at the end of the paragraph. And MTs are not inconstant. A prime example is the way they romanize Korean names into English: The name 김철수 may be romanized as “Kim Chulsoo” in one sentence and as “Cheolsu Kim” in the next. As you can see, output from text translators actually needs to be proofread and corrected in order to be transformed into an acceptable translation. So what does this infer? In infers that you need to have an acceptable grasp of the L2 in order to massage the MT output into meaningful and consistently spelled, capitalized, and punctuated L2 text. In short, you need to know the L2 yourself in order to use an MT effectually. Communication is More Than Words MTs are often good at word-to-word translation, but that isn’t always a good thing, especially in dealing with idioms (e.g., input “John kicked the bucket” into an MT; see what it gives back to you). Although words and sentence/utterance structure is important, knowing an L2 encompasses, and provides an opportunity to understand, the nonverbal aspects of communication (e.g., tone, gestures, facial expressions, body language) – all which are important to a full understanding of the message. An L2 Promotes Problem-Solving Skills It almost goes without saying that learning an L2 develops problem-solving skills, as few would deny that learning an L2 (and an L1, for that matter) is not without a plethora of problems TEACHING AND LEARNING 31 Figure 1. Korean-to-English Machine Mis-translations. to solve (e.g., building the meanings of words, deciphering grammar, reading between the unspoken/written lines, navigating through cultural differences). The development of problem-solving skills through language learning carries over to the use of these skills in other areas of learning (studies have shown that young students who have learned an L2 do better in other school subjects such as math)¹ and in life in general. Knowing an L2 Promotes Cultural Understanding and Sensitivity Through learning an L2, one can obtain a deeper understanding of the speakers of that language and their culture – granted that every individual is different and that numerous cultures may An L2 Enhances Personal and Professional Growth L2 proficiency boosts personal development and opens the door to professional opportunities. GWANGJU NEWS, FEBRUARY 2024 Learning an L2 is Healthful Studies suggest that learning an L2 can promote brain health.² Individuals who speak an L2 have been shown to outperform monolinguals on tasks that require working memory. Bilinguals also performed better than their monolingual counterparts on both verbal and non-verbal tests. Learning an L2 is thought to increase flexibility in cognitive functioning, including attention improvement. It is also believed to ward off the onset of dementia.³, ⁴ speak the same language. MTs cannot take cultural considerations into account. They can’t understand that the Korean equivalent of “Have you had lunch?” is a noontime greeting and that the equivalent of “Where are you going?” can also merely be a greeting. One needs to understand the cultural nuances and cultural norms of the speakers of the community. For example, English speakers must realize that Korean has different levels of speech when speaking to someone older, younger, and the same age as you. Failure to use these levels properly is often considered an insensitive cultural gaffe. On the other hand, Korean learners of English are happy to learn that English does not have required honorific forms to use according to the hearer’s age; however, they may easily make the faux pas of not adjusting their English speech according to the authority of the individual being spoken to (e.g., speaking the same to one’s teacher/professor as they do to a drinking buddy). This could also easily be viewed as an insensitivity. Knowledge such as this helps to avoid misunderstandings and unintentional offenses, and promotes cultural sensitivity and respectful communication. 32 TEACHING AND LEARNING Knowing an L2 can broaden one’s career prospects. In fact, it is almost impossible to be hired by any of Korea’s conglomerates without knowing at least one L2 well. L2 proficiency can make a person a more attractive candidate for an international position, and it can assuredly help to connect one with a more diverse range of people. GWANGJU NEWS, FEBRUARY 2024 Learning an L2 Is Empowering Relying solely on present-day translation tools creates total dependence on technology for one’s survival in any L2 context. It reminds me a bit of my students of yesteryear lugging around their six-centimeter-thick English-to-Korean dictionaries. But the dictionaries were only an aid to their learning of their L2. They were a part of the empowerment that comes with learning an L2. Total reliance on MTs stifles empowerment and fosters dependence. Learning an L2, and using MTs as a tool in that learning process is empowering. “Have L2, Will Travel” This heading comes from an old, very old, U.S. TV cowboy program that I watched when I was young: Have Gun: Will Travel. The point here is that having a second language will enhance your travel experiences significantly when visiting a foreign country where that L2 is spoken (in the case of English, that is many countries of the world). It allows you to connect with the locals personally, without having to rely on MT devices, human translators, or a 6-cm-thick dictionary to navigate through an L2 situation. Having an L2 encourages travel; it is empowering! And it creates a sense of independence and confidence in being able to travel alone. How would you like to travel alone to, say, Thailand without being able to speak Thai? An L2 Builds Global Citizenship In our increasingly interconnected world, proficiency in an L2 contributes to global citizenship. It enables one to participate more actively in international conversations, conferences, business meetings, etc., fostering a sense of global awareness and responsibility. Learning an L2 involves gaining insight into different perspectives and ways of expressing oneself. This fosters empathy by allowing one to view the world through a different cultural lens, promoting more open-mindedness and deeper understanding. Sources ¹ Zhang, J. (2017). The role of early language abilities on math skills among Chinese children. PloS One, 12(7), Article e0181074. https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal. pone.0181074 ² Aliouche, H. (2022, February 15). The impact of learning a language on brain health. News Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Impactof-Learning-a-Language-on-Brain-Health.aspx ³ Cullen, M. (2024, January 16). Learning a language may help stave off dementia [Email newsletter]. The New York Times: The Evening. ⁴ Padmanabhan, J. (2023, April 28). Bilingualism may stave off dementia, study suggests. Columbia University Irving Medical Center. https://www. neurology.columbia.edu/news/bilingualism-maystave-dementia-study-suggests Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Upcoming Events Monthly Chapter Workshop Date: February 17, 2024 (Saturday) Venue: GIC Lounge (1st Floor, 2:00 p.m.) Check the chapter’s webpages and Facebook group periodically for updates on chapter events and additional in-person and online KOTESOL activities. For full event details: Website: http://koreatesol.org/gwangju Facebook: Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL The Author David Shaffer, PhD, has been involved in TEFL, teacher training, writing, and research in Gwangju for many years as a professor at Chosun University. As vice-president of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter of KOTESOL, he invites you to participate in the chapter’s monthly teacher development workshops and in KOTESOL activities in general. Dr. Shaffer is a past president of KOTESOL and is the editor-in-chief of the Gwangju News.