With the development of AI and device translation, more and more people are wondering if they will ever need to learn a language.
Certainly, if it is just used as a device to tell people what they need to do while traveling, etc., we may not have to.
However, language is more than just a means for communication.
People feel the most joy when they are able to share their thoughts and feelings with one another. e same may be said for food, for example.
If the purpose of a meal is simply to sustain life, a supplement that contains satisfactory levels of nutrition is all that is needed.
However, nutrition is not the only thing that people look for in a meal. In addition to smell, texture, and satiety, there is also the pleasure of cooking, choosing a menu, and eating with others.
When conveying subtle emotions, speakers of English are said to use tone of voice, facial expressions, and gestures to express themselves.
Japanese people, on the other hand, are known to
have few facial expressions and gestures when they speak, and non-Japanese often point out that it is difficult for them to know their emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.
However, the Japanese language is so rich in vocabulary, one may convey emotions in the absence of facial expressions.
With the Covid-19 pandemic, Japanese people wear masks as a matter of course, whenever they go out in public.
It is said that this is due to a sense of compassion for others. However, there is also a view that it is possible to communicate emotions behind a mask without having to interpret facial expressions.
機械翻訳
kikai’honnyaku
device translation
発達
hattatsu
the development
言語を
genngo wo
a language
学習する
gakushuu suru
to learn (again)
必要が
hitsuyou ga
they will ever need
増えました。
fue mashita.
more and more
確かに、
tashika ni,
certainly
必要なことを
hitsuyou na koto wo
what they need to do
伝えるため
tsutaeru tame
to tell people
として
to shite
(it is used) as
その通りかもしれません。
sono toori kamo shire masenn.
we may not have to
言語は、
genngo ha,
language
伝達
denntatsu
communication
道具ではありません。
dougu deha ari masenn.
is more than a means
心が
kokoro ga
their thoughts
通ったとき、
kayotta toki,
share
思いを
omoi wo
(and) feelings
共有できた
kyouyuu dekita
they are able to [share]
これは例えば、
kore ha tatoeba,
for example
同じことが
onaji koto ga
the same
目的が
mokuteki ga
the purpose
生命維持
seimei’iji
(is) to sustain life
栄養を
eiyou wo
(of) nutrition
満たす
mitasu
that contains satisfactory levels
サプリメントが
sapurimennto ga
a supplement
事足ります。
koto tari masu.
all that is needed
求めるのは
motomeru no ha
that look for
だけでは
dake deha
the only thing
満腹感
mannpuku’kann
satiety
料理をする、
ryouri wo suru,
cooking
楽しさ
tanoshisa
the pleasure (of)
感情を
kannjou wo
emotions
英語話者は
eigo’washa ha
speakers of English
表情、
hyoujou,
facial expressions
ジェスチャーを
jesucha- wo
gestures
表現すると
hyougenn suru to
to express
言われます。
iware masu.
themselves are said
一方で
ippou de
on the other hand
日本人は、
nihonnjinn ha,
Japanese people
表情
hyoujou
facial expressions
少なく、
sukunaku,
(are known to have) few and
日本人の
nihonnjinn no
their
喜怒哀楽が
kidoairaku ga
emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure
伝わりにくい
tsutawari nikui
it is difficult for them to know
外国人から
gaikokujinn kara
non-Japanese
指摘されます。
shiteki sare masu.
point out
日本語には、
nihonngo niha,
the Japanese language
表情
hyoujou
facial expressions
示さなくとも
shimesa naku tomo
in the absence
感情を
kannjou wo
emotions
伝えられる
tsutae rareru
one may convey
コロナ禍
korona’ka
the Covid-19 pandemic
日本人は
nihonnjinn ha
the Japanese people
外出の
gaishutsu no
they go out in public
当然の
touzenn no
a matter of course
マスクをします。
masuku wo shi masu.
wear masks
他人への思やり
taninn heno omoiyari
compassion for others
影響している
eikyou shite iru
is due
言われます
iware masu
it is said
表情が
hyoujou ga
facial expressions
読めなくても
yome nakute mo
without having to interpret
コミュニケーションが
komyunike-shonn ga
to communicate