It has always been interesting to me when I meet someone who speaks and understands multiple languages and communicates well and accurately in different languages with people who might not be from the same region as me. It has always given me a lovely feeling. Nigeria speaks over 500 indigenous languages, and it has always been a joy to find someone who can communicate effectively in two to three languages. It is a shame that, amongst these languages, I am only able to speak one, and I am unable to speak or understand my own native or maternal language.
The idea of having AI translate languages for us is still far-fetched to me, as it cannot replace the relevance of understanding and speaking other languages for a human. Learning new languages keeps the brain very active and will help one communicate better with the native of a territory, eventually one finds themselves in another land. It has always been a thing of pride for people to show that they can speak and understand the language of the other person.
The advantages one has over others for speaking multiple languages is close to none, being able to speak another person’s native language makes them feel and take you as one of them, I know an Igbo man will find it pleasing when he sees or hears a Hausa man speaking in his own native tongue fluently, or a Hausa man seeing an Igbo man speaking Hausa fluently and so on, it gives the other person a sense of belonging and togetherness.
Learning another language has the advantage of making one have better job opportunities and making them look better qualified in the eyes of employers. It will also be easier for one to navigate better in a foreign land, and being able to speak the language will help you communicate with the natives, which will make one have a better time and a better tourism experience. Understanding the other person's language may also create understanding of the culture in a more relatable way.
As much as the advancement of AI, using AI translation won't still give the feelings and the vibes I have aforementioned above, the brain can learn at any age, and it is a nice challenge that one could pick up at anytime to help himself and exercise his brain, it only be lazy when we have to depend on AI for translations at all time when we can learn the language ourselves, understand it deeply and still have fun in the process of all these. Speaking multiple languages is one of the many things I have on my to-do list, learning the Yoruba and the Igbo language, learning French and Spanish and maybe a little Mandarin. An AI translator mustn’t be the last stop to the language barrier, but another means to the challenge.
Thank you for reading. My name is@rishagamo, and this is my response to the Hive Learners weekly Featured Content Week 205 Episode 02: “A NEW LANGUAGE”.
