In today’s internationalised business market, more people than ever are travelling to different countries for their jobs. Sadly, we aren’t all gifted with the ability to be multilingual or have the time and money to invest in learning each new language we might need.
Advances in technology mean that the smartphones we carry with us are increasingly able to take on translation and communication tasks – but which are the best?
For iPhone
1. Babelshot
Babelshot takes a different approach because it uses the camera on the iPhone to translate snapshots of text.
2. World Nomads Language Guides
Many ‘free’ versions of apps can be a little too limited and that is the case here with 230 spoken phrases for one of 25 available languages. The ‘paid for’ version comes with a much more workable 550 phrases.
3. Jibbigo
This app is at the more expensive end of the market but its functionality means it is worth it. When you speak, your phone will translate into the language of your choosing and vice versa. It works offline too so avoids potentially prohibitive data charges.
4. Coolgorilla Talking Phrasebooks
Here 500 words and phrases are spoken by professional voice-over artists.
5. iLingual
This free app from Emirates is available in French, German, or Arabic and speaks over 400 phrases.
6. Lonely Planet Phrasebooks
With a long history of helping travellers use the phrases they need in a day-to-day experience, these apps have the added advantage of speaking audible phrases in the proper accent.
For BlackBerry
7. EmailTranslator
Another free app with limited use, this adds a translation option to the menu in your email inbox.
8. Babelphone
Both text and spoken translation are provided for 200 practical phrases in this free app which can be particularly useful when it comes to pronouncing Chinese characters. Babelphone only has Spanish and Chinese versions.
9. Navita Translator
Navita Translator uses Google Translator, Google Dictionary or Bing Translator and requires a live internet connection (although the app itself is free).
10. ProTranslateLite
The easy to use layout of this free app is a huge benefit and makes it easy to copy translations to e-mail and SMS.
For Android
11. Google Translate
This app has the same functionality as the Google Translate website.
12. Trip Mondo Voice Translator
As you may guess from the name this is an audio translator that works with 30 supported languages.
13. SlavoEd Dictionaries
Here you are basically downloading entire dictionaries of words and as a result it is quite a memory hog. Audio pronunciations, search-by-voice and the ability to use it fully offline makes for a decent choice though.
14. Translate
This app uses Google’s data but features an alternative layout and interface.
15. Talk to Me Classic
A free option with three add-on downloads that provide text-to-speech, text-to-text and speech-to-speech translations.
A guest post by EVS Translations. While these translations apps are great for travelling and having a laugh with the locals, don’t risk translating your documents with them, hire a specialist financial translations company to avoid embarrassment!
