Hands On: Siri's Translation Features in iOS 11

[MacRumors]

In iOS 11, Siri has a new feature that lets you ask the personal assistant to translate English into one of several different languages. We already did a Siri overview video showing off Siri's new capabilities, but we thought we'd take a closer look at translate, which can come in handy when you're traveling.

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Translate works as expected -- ask Siri how to say something in another language, and Siri does it. For example, you might say "Translate 'Where's the bathroom' to Spanish," or "How do I say 'I am a vegetarian' in Chinese?"

When translating, Siri speaks the translation aloud, so whomever you're speaking to can hear what you have to say directly in their language. There's also a button for quickly repeating the spoken translation.

Siri can translate English to Mandarin, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, but not the other way around. Apple says there are plans to expand the feature to include additional languages in the coming months.

As you might have noticed, Siri's new translating abilities are accompanied by a more natural, human sounding voice with better pronunciation and inflection. Siri's also much smarter in iOS 11, thanks to new on-device learning functionality and cross-device syncing. Siri can also make suggestions based on your browsing habits, and it knows more about music.

For details on Siri's new capabilities and all of the other features in iOS 11, make sure to check out our iOS 11 roundup.

Article Link: Hands On: Siri's Translation Features in iOS 11

 

[jmh600cbr]

Apparently she doesn’t speak “Canadian English”

 

[fitshaced]

Siri, do a translo on this gabber from blighty to frog.

Siri: I'm sorry I can't yet translate Australian English.

Strewth.

 

[firewire9000]

Siri, do a translo on this gabber from blighty to frog.

Siri: I'm sorry I can't yet translate Australian English.

Strewth.

Damn is that even English?

 

[Born Again]

Hard to believe that this will work well considering how awful siri is.

 

[eoblaed]

Hard to believe that this will work well considering how awful siri is.

I'm guessing you haven't used it in a while.

I use siri (well, voice dictation ... same difference for these purposes) for any text messages I send when:

1. It's going to be longer than a short-ish sentence, and,
2. I'm not at my computer to type it out

Yeah, I'll have to occasionally correct a word or two, but as long as I don't go out of my way to speak like I have mouth full of marbles, it usually works pretty well. Certainly a lot faster than tapping out a long message.

 

[rzc16512]

Is Macrumors sponsored by Project Fi?...every iOS beta video has been with a iPhone 7 being used on Project Fi(which seems random since it seems it has some "quirks" on the iPhone)

 

[Attirex]

...which means that all over the world, fat American tourists will be yelling at Siri on their phones, then shoving them into the faces of locals: "DID YOU GET THAT?? I. NEED. A. BATH. ROOM."

Much better than trying to actually learn the language.


...

 

[neoelectronaut]

Does it do Japanese? The wife and I are eventually gonna do an anniversary trip to Japan and that would be super helpful.

 

[0029937]

I'm guessing you haven't used it in a while.

And I'm guessing you have a perfectly standard English/American accent. While I agree with you Siri works fine for me, my Aussie wife relies on it a lot for dictating texts which turns into her refraining from throwing the phone out the car window after every use.

 

[smoking monkey]

Hoping they add Japanese to this soon as well. The Google Translate app is horrendous. It gets the words wrong more often than right, so if this is more accurate it will be a massive step forward. I like the fact that it also shows the romanised reading of the kanji. That's something siri doesn't do now when you ask it to translate a word.

 

[nwcs]

Very much like the program iTranslate. That program was fun when I got it but it turns out it's not very useful for me. Having it built in will be nice.

 

[TheTruth101]

It would be fun if you have mods, like:
Translate into German but as Darth Vader.
Or into Spanish but as Enrique Iglesias.
Or from Spanish to English but as Sean Connery
Or from Spanish to English as Joda.

 

[AbSoluTc]

I'm curious why you need to showcase not only what the video is about but your apple watch, airpods and the charging case for the airpods. Why not just focus on what you're trying to convey. We get it, you like apple stuff.

 

[iVoid]

What really would be cool is this:

Hey, Siri, please interpret a conversation between English and Spanish for me.

Then you and who you are speaking can say whatever you want in English and Spanish, pause, and let Siri translate that on the fly for each sentence.

Then "Hey, Siri, stop interpreting." to stop.

 

[jzachlee]

So there is such a thing as "Singaporean English"!

 

[eoblaed]

And I'm guessing you have a perfectly standard English/American accent. While I agree with you Siri works fine for me, my Aussie wife relies on it a lot for dictating texts which turns into her refraining from throwing the phone out the car window after every use.

It's true, I have a standard American accent.

Does your wife have Siri set to an Aussie voice? My understanding is that the voice you choose for siri isn't just for listening aesthetics, but also instructs siri on what sort of accent to listen for.

 

[itsmilo]

Works surprisingly well for german

 

[nzgeorge]

So there is such a thing as "Singaporean English"!

I can't translate Singaporean English yet lah. I'm sorry about that lah.

 

[CausticSoda]

I can't translate Singaporean English yet lah. I'm sorry about that lah.

"You are learning it though Siri, Is it?"

 

[Floris]

Pretty awesome that we can do this, but I am more impressed with the translate google app that you just point at something and it auto translate it 'live', augmented reality used correctly.

 

[Dobbs2]

Damn is that even English?

I'm American, but here's my translation for you.

Aussie Bloke: Siri, can you translate on this phone from Aussie to French?

Siri: I'm sorry I can not yet translate Australian English.


Aussie Bloke: Crikey!

 

[nicho]

Pretty awesome that we can do this, but I am more impressed with the translate google app that you just point at something and it auto translate it 'live', augmented reality used correctly.

Fantastic in a taxi, until you forget a pen or the guy doesn't write in block capitals. It's really apples and oranges.

 

[SoloXis]

I can't translate Singaporean English yet lah. I'm sorry about that lah.

I'll be incredibly amazed if it can interpret Singlish.

Such as "Can anot?", "Can lah", "Can one leh"

 

[Floris]

Fantastic in a taxi, until you forget a pen or the guy doesn't write in block capitals. It's really apples and oranges.

Right now Siri can't even understand basic english

"Open Safari"
(cuts off after open: WHAT YOU SAY? OPEN WHA?)
"Open Safari"
"There is no app called 'open safari' ..."

So I have very little hope on having this work outside in the busy streets where you play tourist.
I rather point it at a sign that says "this is a taxi spot" and i dont have to ask someone where if this is where i wait for the bus or can find a cab .. (random example).