Google Translate added a few features to its main web home, including instant translations as you type. What’s really helpful is a bit more tucked away: phonetic pronunciations for non-Roman alphabets, like Chinese and text-to-speech pronunciations for translating to English.
Ask anyone who’s achieved proficiency in a second language and they’ll tell you submersion is key. While most of us can’t pick up and move to another country just for our language-learning benefit, you can submerse yourself on the web easily enough.
Windows only: If you need frequent access to word definitions and text translation, Lingoes is a portable application that does everything from dictionary word look-ups to translation of over 80 languages.
iPhone only: Whether you’ve found yourself in a foreign land or you just need a little help with a foreign-language menu, snap a pic with PicTranslator and let it translate for you on the fly.
The ability to learn a spoken language without formal training is one of the most astonishing (and defining) human characteristics. That doesn’t mean you can’t help the process along a little with your kids.
If you’re heading off to a foreign country and want to quickly familiarise yourself with its language, try changing the default language on your favourite gadgets to help jump-start your education.
Wolfram Alpha, the “computational knowledge engine” that’s steadily updating, has a good but hidden use as a word and language tool for use while writing. In other words, it can be a smart and snappy thesaurus/dictionary/translator/anagram tool.
If you want to brush up on a few important phrases before heading abroad on holiday (you know, because you’re all about good travel etiquette), the BBC’s Quick Fix site is a crash course in useful phrases in foreign languages.
Wikipedia’s a great resource for learning more about complex or esoteric subjects, but sometimes the dense, insider language can be a bit off-putting. Free mashup tool Again, But Slower compares original Wikipedia entries with their simplified re-writes.
