Hiligaynon, Bikol, Waray, and more added to Google Translate
Google Translate has added support for 110 new languages, including five Philippine languages.
On June 27, Google announced that it updated its translation service using AI to bring its largest expansion ever. Now, the app can understand languages like Cantonese, NKo, Punjabi (Shahmukhi), Tamazight (Amazigh), and Tok Pisin.
Also added to the service are five Philippine languages, including Bikol, Hiligaynon, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, and Waray.
According to the tech giant, it used the PaLM 2 model to help include more languages.
Google also said that its approach for Translate has been prioritizing the most commonly used varieties of each language. The AI model helped Google Translate learn languages that are closely related to each other like Hindi, Awadhi and Marwadi, and French Creoles like Seychelleois Creole and Mauritian Creole.
The company added that it aims to add more languages and spelling conventions as technology advances and as it partners with linguists and native speakers.
In addition to the five new languages, Google Translate also understands Filipino, Cebuano, and Ilocano.
In November 2022, Google announced its plans to build an AI model that can support 1,000 most spoken languages.
Here's a glimpse of the five Philippine languages in use on Google Translate:
You can try it out yourself by visiting translate.google.com or downloading the Google Translate app from the App Store and Google Play.
