yamaco In the near future, AI automatic translators will be improved and foreign language learning will no longer be necessary.
近い将来、AI自動翻訳機が改良され、外国語学習は、必要なくなる。
進学のための英検取得や、翻訳家・通訳を目指して学習している人々にとっては、かなり物議を醸すお題ですが、説得力のあるアーギュメントができるでしょうか？
早速、自分なりの意見をまとめてみましょう。
定番の観点
Accuracy/ Turnaround Time/ Context/ Cost
精度や翻訳にかかる時間、そして文脈理解とコストが、AI翻訳と人間翻訳を比較する際の定番の観点になっていますね。上記以外にも「異文化理解」「自己主張」「ディベート」「国際社会」「IT技術」などのキーワードを使って、サンプル解答を作ってみましたので、是非ご一読下さいね。
＜参考資料＞
Machine vs human translation: the pros, cons and when to use each
The Pros and Cons of Automatic Translation
賛成派の意見
In the near future, AI automatic translators will be improved and foreign language learning will no longer be necessary.
＜記憶力・コストと手間・文脈理解＞
Except for professional translators and aspiring interpreters, it’s only a matter of time before language learning becomes unnecessary.
プロの翻訳家や通訳志望者を除いては、言語学習が不要になるのは時間の問題です。
Human “memorization” has its limits, and even professional translators often google or look up dictionaries, especially when including the usage of each vocabulary. Since it is true that human beings cannot surpass AI in the storage area, language learning, which requires a huge amount of time for “memorization learning,” may be positioned as a kind of hobby.
人間の「暗記」には限界があり、殊にそれぞれの語彙の用法などを含めると、プロの翻訳家でさえ、ググったり辞書を引いたりするのが実情です。記憶領域において、人間がAIを超えられないのは事実である以上、「暗記学習」に膨大な時間を要する語学学習は、一種の趣味の様な位置づけになってくるのではないでしょうか。
Of course, in terms of 100% accuracy and understanding of the context, automated translators will not be able to compete with top-notch human translators, but given the cost and scheduling of hiring top-notch people, and the time it takes to translate, I think that some errors in machine translation are acceptable.
もちろん、100％の精度と文脈の理解においては、自動翻訳機は超一流の人間翻訳家にはかなわないでしょうが、超一流の人たちを採用するコストとスケジュール調整、また翻訳にかかる時間を考慮すれば、機械翻訳の多少の誤差は容認できる程度だと考えます。
Furthermore, even with the “some errors” mentioned earlier, AI’s learning algorithm technology is evolving day by day, and even in “contextual understanding“, it should not be long before AI translates with the same accuracy as humans.
更に言えば、先ほど述べた「多少の誤差」でさえ、AIの学習アルゴリズム技術も日々進化を遂げており、「文脈理解」においても、AIが人間と同じレベルに訳せる日はそう遠くないはずです。
It is inevitable that foreign language learning can be limited to those who have the brains to compete with AI automatic translators that can translate millions of words with high accuracy in an instant, or those who are simply interested in the language of the country.
外国語学習は、一瞬で何百万語をも高精度で翻訳できるAI自動翻訳機に対抗できる頭脳の人、もしくは単純にその国の言語に興味がある人に限定された学問になる事は必然だと言い切れます。
賛成派・本文全文と音源
Except for professional translators and aspiring interpreters, it’s only a matter of time before language learning becomes unnecessary.
Human “memorization” has its limits, and even professional translators often google or look up dictionaries, especially when including the usage of each vocabulary. Since it is true that human beings cannot surpass AI in the storage area, language learning, which requires a huge amount of time for “memorization learning,” may be positioned as a kind of hobby.
Of course, in terms of 100% accuracy and understanding of the context, automated translators will not be able to compete with top-notch human translators, but given the cost and scheduling of hiring top-notch people, and the time it takes to translate, I think that some errors in machine translation are acceptable.
Furthermore, even with the “some errors” mentioned earlier, AI’s learning algorithm technology is evolving day by day, and even in “contextual understanding”, it should not be long before AI translates with the same accuracy as humans.
It is inevitable that foreign language learning can be limited to those who have the brains to compete with AI automatic translators that can translate millions of words with high accuracy in an instant, or those who are simply interested in the language of the country.
反対派の意見
質問： In the near future, AI automatic translators will be improved and foreign language learning will no longer be necessary.
It is true that the accuracy of automatic translators has improved, but I think it is an extreme theory that learning a foreign language will no longer be necessary.
自動翻訳機の精度が上がっているのは事実ですが、それに伴って外国語習得が不要になるというのは極論だと思います。
In the first place, learning a foreign language is not just a simple understanding of the language, but the meaning of understanding the different cultures behind that language. English, which does not allow ambiguity, and Japanese, which captures nuances, express the difference in “values”, and I think the real thrill of language learning lies in such “understanding of diversity.”
そもそも外国語習得は、単純な言語理解という事ではなく、その言語の背景にある異文化を理解することです。曖昧さを許さない英語と、ニュアンスを汲み取る日本語は、「価値観」の違いを表しており、言語学習の醍醐味はそういった「多様性の理解」にあると思います。
Also, when it comes to learning English, not only is it the official language of the United Nations, but the “programming language” is also written based on English. The higher your English proficiency, the more advantageous it is to acquire IT skills that are indispensable in modern society.
また、英語習得に関していえば、国連で公用語とされているだけではなく、「プログラミング言語」も英語がベースとなって書かれています。現代社会で不可欠なIT技術の習得は、英語運用能力が高ければ高いほど、有利と言えます。
Finally, it is essential in the global society for Japanese people, whose virtue is “modest“, to understand and master the culture of “self-assertion” that English has. Japanese people, who tend to be overwhelmingly inferior in debates and discussions, will have more opportunities to play an active role in the international community by acquiring the logical and persuasive power of English.
最後に、「控え目」が美徳とされる日本人が、英語のもつ「自己主張」のカルチャーを理解し習得することが、グローバル社会においては必須です。ディベートや議論において圧倒的に劣勢な日本人は、論理的で説得力のある英語力を身につけることで、国際社会で活躍する機会が増えるでしょう。
In this global society, I believe that learning English will continue to be indispensable for developing the ability to express opinions logically, understanding diversity, and improving IT skills.
このグローバル社会で、意見を論理的に述べる力と多様性の理解、そしてITスキルを磨くうえで、英語学習は今後も必要不可欠だと考えます。
反対派・本文全文と音源
It is true that the accuracy of automatic translators has improved, but I think it is an extreme theory that learning a foreign language will no longer be necessary.
In the first place, learning a foreign language is not just a simple understanding of the language, but the meaning of understanding the different cultures behind that language. English, which does not allow ambiguity, and Japanese, which captures nuances, express the difference in “values”, and I think the real thrill of language learning lies in such “understanding of diversity.”
Also, when it comes to learning English, not only is it the official language of the United Nations, but the “programming language” is also written based on English. The higher your English proficiency, the more advantageous it is to acquire IT skills that are indispensable in modern society.
Finally, it is essential in the global society for Japanese people, whose virtue is “modest”, to understand and master the culture of “self-assertion” that English has. Japanese people, who tend to be overwhelmingly inferior in debates and discussions, will have more opportunities to play an active role in the international community by acquiring the logical and persuasive power of English.
In this global society, I believe that learning English will continue to be indispensable for developing the ability to express opinions logically, understanding diversity, and improving IT skills.
こちらの記事もおススメです：英検1級ライティング 03 Pros and Cons: Space Colonization
