Google Translate adds new features for Indian language users

Google has announced that it is releasing an update for the Google Translate app, which will enhance support for Indian language users. The company has been constant improving its translation features for the Indic language speakers and readers over the past few months and the latest release is a part of the same endevour.

“Language is incredibly important, not only for understanding culture, but also for accessing information in general. That’s why over the past several months, we’ve been updating our products to work better for the many Indian language users coming online every day,” said Barak Turovsky, Product Lead, Google Translate, in a statement.

According to the search giant, the speakers of Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu will now have better tools in the Translate app.

Here is a quick look at what’s new

• Offline translations and instant visual translation in Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu
• Type a Translate query with your voice in the seven above languages and Malayalam
• Conversation mode support  for Bengali and Tamil

All these features have been available for the Hindi users for sometime now, but the other languages are just getting the support. To use these features, head over to the Play Store to download or update Google Translate app.

How to use offline translation

With Google Translate, you can translate content even when you are not connected to a data network or WiFi. To use this feature, first you need download language packs. For example, if you’d like to do offline translations in say Kannada, you can download the Kannada language pack when you’re on WiFi. Then just open the Translate app, select Kannada on either side of the screen and then tap the download button. Same with other language.

How to use instant visual translation (aka word lens)

Translate has a nifty feature called word lens, which allows users to quickly translate signs or menus.

To get started, open the Google Translate app, point your camera at a sign or text, and you’ll see the translated text in your language overlaid on your screen.

How to use conversation mode

In addition to the normal translation features, Google Translate allows you to have a full bilingual conversation with someone just by talking to the app. To use this Conversation mode, simply tap the mic to start speaking in a selected language, then tap the mic again, and the Google Translate app will automatically recognize which of the two languages are being spoken, and will start translating one language to the other, letting you have a normal conversation.