Google Translate has expanded its language support to 110 languages, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) using its in-house PaLM 2 large language model (LLM). Google Translate formerly supported 133 languages; recent additions include Indian regional languages Awadhi and Marwadi. Approximately one-quarter of the new languages originate from Africa.
Google Translate’s language coverage has grown to 243 languages, the largest expansion ever. The move comes after Google launched its 1,000-language programme in November 2022, intending to develop AI models to serve the world’s 1,000 most widely spoken languages. This effort encompasses 110 new languages.
The company via blog post announced the addition of the new languages to Google Translate. It said, “Google Translate breaks down language barriers to help people connect and better understand the world around them. We’re always applying the latest technologies so more people can access this tool: In 2022, we added 24 new languages using Zero-Shot Machine Translation, where a machine learning model learns to translate into another language without ever seeing an example. And we announced the 1,000 Languages Initiative, a commitment to build AI models that will support the 1,000 most spoken languages around the world. Now, we’re using AI to expand the variety of languages we support. Thanks to our PaLM 2 large language model, we’re rolling out 110 new languages to Google Translate, our largest expansion ever.”
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Google reports that new languages, such as Cantonese and Q’eqchi, have reached over 614 million speakers, enabling translations for 8% of the global population. Some are prominent global languages, while others are spoken by indigenous communities. Approximately a quarter of these languages are from Africa, constituting the largest expansion to date. The list now contains seven additional Indian languages: Awadhi, Bodo, Khasi, Kokborok, Marwadi, Santali, and Tulu.
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Translate prioritises the most widely spoken versions of each language, such as Romani, which has multiple dialects throughout Europe. Translate can use the PaLM 2 tool to learn closely related languages such as Hindi-like Awadhi and Marwadi, as well as French creoles like Seychellois Creole and Mauritian Creole. As technology progresses and linguists work together, more language variations and spelling conventions will be supported.
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