Microsoft Translator Now Supports Yucatec Maya and Querétaro Otomi Language

First time accepted submitter BrianFagioli writes So, just how rare are these two languages? The Yucatec Maya language is spoken by less than 800,000 people, while the Querétaro Otomi is spoken by about 33,000. These are extremely low numbers in the grand scheme of things, which increases the risk of the languages dying out altogether. With that said, Microsoft's support of the languages in its translator software will essentially preserve it for posterity. Even if the languages end up fading away from actual use, it should live digitally forever.

Comments

FIrst phrase translated from Yucatec Maya

[JoeyRox]

"Why did Microsoft take away the start menu in Windows 8? Metro is worse than bat shit."

Re:FIrst phrase translated from Yucatec Maya

[fustakrakich]

No, the first word everybody is looking for is "pelaná"

Translator and dead languages?

[ArcadeMan]

Obligatory Futurama reference.

Re: Test by translating back

[ArmoredDragon]

Some meanings are lost in translation because the target language has no analog to what you're trying to say. Not even the best interpreters can work around this problem when it occurs in some cases.

That said, I highly doubt a computer program could either.

No Quechua

[cusco]

Still doesn't do Quechua, which is spoken by over 14 million people.

Apocalypto

[bunyip]

I wonder if we can now translate that Mel Gibson movie about the Maya?

Seriously though, adding another language with a completely different structure will force them to improve their translation engine. I find it interesting.

A.