Celebrating 20 years of Google Translate: Fun facts, tips and new features to try
Celebrating 20 years of Google Translate: Fun facts, tips and new features to try
庆祝 Google 翻译 20 周年：趣味事实、使用技巧与全新功能体验
From its beginning as an AI experiment in 2006 to supporting about 250 languages today, Translate has come a long way in two decades. Here’s how 1 billion users use Translate to learn, speak and connect more deeply than ever before. 从 2006 年作为一项人工智能实验起步，到如今支持约 250 种语言，Google 翻译在过去的二十年里取得了长足的进步。以下是 10 亿用户如何利用 Google 翻译来学习、交流并建立比以往更深层次的联系。
Twenty years ago, Google Translate began with a profound mission to help people understand one another, regardless of the language they speak. In the two decades since, we’ve worked to turn the science of language into the magic of connection. What started as a small experiment is now a global tool that helps people every day, from connecting with new people while traveling to learning a new language to support their career. 二十年前，Google 翻译怀揣着一个深远的使命：帮助人们跨越语言障碍，实现相互理解。在随后的二十年里，我们致力于将语言科学转化为连接彼此的魔力。最初的一项小型实验，如今已演变为全球性的工具，每天都在帮助人们——从旅行时结识新朋友，到学习新语言以助力职业发展。
1. Translate now has the pronunciation tool you’ve been asking for.
1. Google 翻译现已推出你期待已久的语音练习工具。
To celebrate our 20th anniversary of Translate, today we’re launching one of our most requested features: pronunciation practice, so you can master your delivery on the Translate app for Android. You can already tap “ask” and “understand” to provide additional context and receive alternatives, and now you can use the new “pronunciation practice” tool, which uses AI to analyze your speech and provide instant feedback — helping you nail the right pronunciation before you start a real-world conversation. This is now available in the U.S. and India in English, Spanish and Hindi. 为庆祝 Google 翻译 20 周年，我们今天推出了呼声最高的功能之一：语音练习。你可以在 Android 版 Google 翻译应用中提升口语表达能力。此前，你已经可以通过点击“询问”和“理解”来获取更多语境信息及备选译文；现在，你可以使用全新的“语音练习”工具，它利用人工智能分析你的发音并提供即时反馈，帮助你在进行真实对话前掌握准确的读音。该功能目前已在美国和印度上线，支持英语、西班牙语和印地语。
2. We’ve been using AI and machine learning in Translate since the beginning.
2. 我们从一开始就在翻译中应用了人工智能和机器学习。
Translate was one of the initial experiments that kickstarted Google’s machine learning work decades ago within Google Research. In 2006, Translate relied on statistical machine learning, and a key part of making more fluent and natural translations was our research into how to maintain much larger-scale and more accurate language models across trillions of words of data. In 2016, we pioneered a massive shift to neural networks to move beyond literal word-for-word translations, proving that deep learning could work at a global scale to be truly helpful for people. And today we’re using AI, our powerful Gemini models and more recent generations of our Tensor Processing Unit hardware to make Translate even more capable and helpful. Google 翻译是几十年前在 Google 研究院启动机器学习工作的最初实验之一。2006 年，翻译功能依赖于统计机器学习；为了实现更流畅、自然的翻译，我们的核心研究在于如何处理数万亿词汇数据，以维护规模更大、更精准的语言模型。2016 年，我们率先实现了向神经网络的重大转型，超越了逐字翻译的局限，证明了深度学习可以在全球范围内发挥作用，真正造福用户。如今，我们正利用人工智能、强大的 Gemini 模型以及新一代张量处理单元（TPU）硬件，使 Google 翻译变得更加强大和实用。
3. Translate supports 95% of the world’s population.
3. Google 翻译支持全球 95% 的人口。
Translate works for almost 250 languages and more than 60,000 potential language pairs, including endangered and indigenous languages, ensuring more voices are heard as the world becomes more connected. Google 翻译支持近 250 种语言和超过 60,000 种语言对，其中包括濒危语言和原住民语言，确保随着世界联系日益紧密，更多的声音能够被听见。
4. More than 1 billion users ask Google for translation help each month.
4. 每月有超过 10 亿用户向 Google 寻求翻译帮助。
Translation is no longer a standalone task; it is now a fundamental part of how people discover and understand information across the web, and communicate with the world around them. 翻译不再是一项孤立的任务；它已成为人们在网络上发现和理解信息，以及与周围世界沟通的基础组成部分。
5. People translate around 1 trillion words every month.
5. 人们每月翻译约 1 万亿个单词。
There’s enough text translated across Translate, Search, Lens and Circle to Search every month to keep someone reading out loud 24/7 for the next 12,000 years. 通过 Google 翻译、搜索、Lens 和“圈选即搜”功能，每月翻译的文本总量足以让一个人 24 小时不停歇地朗读，持续 12,000 年。
6. Your headphones can be your personal translator.
6. 你的耳机可以成为你的私人翻译官。
With Live experiences, Translate can now be your personal translator on any headphones. By preserving the original tone and cadence of the person speaking, the technology stays out of the way so you can focus on the human connection. Live translate helps you get a quick translation when traveling, like better understanding a local speaking to you or listening to a tour guide. 借助实时体验功能，Google 翻译现在可以在任何耳机上充当你的私人翻译。通过保留说话者的原始语调和节奏，这项技术能够隐于无形，让你专注于人与人之间的交流。实时翻译功能可以帮助你在旅行时快速获取翻译，例如更好地理解当地人的话语或听懂导游的讲解。
7. You can have real-time conversations enabled by Gemini models.
7. 你可以通过 Gemini 模型进行实时对话。
With our latest audio-to-audio Gemini models, we’re moving from word-for-word text translations to enabling fluid real-time conversations with capabilities like Live translate. Because Gemini models track context and nuance, you can maintain that human connection and the pace of a real conversation. 借助我们最新的音频到音频 Gemini 模型，我们正从逐字文本翻译转向支持如“实时翻译”般流畅的实时对话。由于 Gemini 模型能够追踪语境和细微差别，你可以保持人际连接，并维持真实对话的节奏。
8. Over a third of Live translate sessions last longer than five minutes.
8. 超过三分之一的实时翻译会话时长超过五分钟。
People are clearly using AI to have longer, more meaningful conversations that were previously out of reach, whether for job interviews, catch-ups with family or cultural exchanges. 显然，人们正在利用人工智能进行更长、更有意义的对话，而这些在过去是难以实现的，无论是求职面试、与家人叙旧还是文化交流。
9. Translate is helping people tune into big cultural moments.
9. Google 翻译正在帮助人们参与重大的文化时刻。
Language is no longer a barrier to joining and understanding global conversations and events. For example, fans are using Live translate with headphones to catch every lyric of the half-time performance at the big game, and people are following along with live speeches and national addresses in real time. 语言不再是参与和理解全球对话与活动的障碍。例如，粉丝们正戴着耳机使用实时翻译，捕捉大型赛事中场表演的每一句歌词；人们也在实时跟进演讲和国家级讲话。
10. We’re using AI to understand the trickiest phrases, even local slang.
10. 我们正在利用人工智能理解最棘手的短语，甚至是当地俚语。
By bringing the power of our Gemini models into Translate, we’ve moved beyond literal definitions to help you get more natural translations that capture tricky idioms, local slang and the subtle context of local languages. 通过将 Gemini 模型的能力引入 Google 翻译，我们已经超越了字面定义，能够为你提供更自然的翻译，捕捉棘手的习语、当地俚语以及语言中微妙的语境。
11. People are using Translate to learn new languages.
11. 人们正在使用 Google 翻译来学习新语言。
Translate isn’t just for quick translations while traveling. About a third of people using Translate on mobile turn to the app to learn and practice a new language. To help, we’ve launched an AI-powered practice experience. Google 翻译不仅仅是为了旅行时的快速翻译。约三分之一的移动端用户使用该应用来学习和练习新语言。为了提供帮助，我们推出了基于人工智能的练习体验。