In its “biggest expansion ever”, Google has announced that Google Translate will soon add support for 110 new languages ​​including Awadhi, Punjabi and Marwari. Google says it is using its AI model PaLM 2 for this massive expansion on Google Translate. “From Cantonese to Q’eqchi, these new languages ​​represent more than 614 million speakers, opening up translation to nearly 8 percent of the world’s population,” Google said in a blog post. Till now, Google Translate had support for Hindi, Sanskrit, Assamese, Bhojpuri, Dogri, Konkani, Maithili, Mizo and Meiteilon (Manipuri).

Apart from Indian languages, the new languages ​​added to Google Translate include Afar, a tonal language from Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia, which has received the most contributions from the community. Cantonese, which was a long-requested feature due to its complexity and overlap with Mandarin, is now supported. Manx, the Celtic language from the Isle of Man, is on the verge of extinction. NKo, a standardized form of the West African Manding languages, whose unique alphabet was developed in 1949. Additionally, Tok Pisin, an English-based creole from Papua New Guinea, is now available, making it easier for English speakers to understand.

Google says the PaLM 2 large language model has played a very important role for Google Translate, as it has helped it efficiently learn closely related languages ​​like Awadhi and Marwari, similar to Hindi, as well as French creoles like Seychellois Creole and Mauritian Creole. The company says that as the technology progresses, it will add support for more language variations and spelling conventions by partnering with expert linguists and native speakers.

While Google is constantly adding support for new languages ​​on Google Translate, with the help of AI this expansion is now possible at a much faster pace. The AI ​​models help them understand the nuances and program their applications much faster, as opposed to the same effort put in by human programmers. “Languages ​​have a lot of diversity: regional variations, dialects, different spelling standards. In fact, many languages ​​have no single standard form, so it’s impossible to choose the “right” variety,” the blog reads.

In addition to text translation, Google Translate’s features like voice input, handwriting recognition, and offline translation make it a versatile tool for daily use. With these new languages, users can expect a more comprehensive and user-friendly experience, whether they’re navigating new places, learning a new language, or simply trying to communicate more effectively in their community.

As the world becomes more interconnected, the ability to communicate in different languages ​​is becoming more important than ever. For Indian users, this means better access, better cultural preservation, and improved communication in a linguistically diverse landscape.