Save Cantonese is thrilled to share that Cantonese is now available on Google Translate! This is a major win for the 80+ million Cantonese speakers around the world, and it would not have been possible without your continued efforts to keep this vibrant language alive.
Mingfei Lau, the linguist behind Cantonese at Google Translate and a long-time Save Cantonese supporter, is proud of this achievement:
“Cantonese being supported by Google Translate is a milestone in the development of this language. It is a manifesto to the world that Cantonese is truly a full-fledged, institutionalized and prosperous language.”
— Mingfei Lau, linguist behind Cantonese at Google Translate
For many years, Cantonese has been one of the most requested languages for Google Translate. Now our voices have been heard! This is a testament to the collective power of our passionate community.
Shape the Future of Cantonese Translation
As with any new feature, there's room for improvement. We urge you to try out Google Translate for Cantonese and to provide feedback on the translations. Your input will be invaluable in helping shape the future of Cantonese translation technology.
Boost Cantonese Learning for All
This is a huge leap forward for Cantonese language learning. Google Translate offers support for different input methods:
- Jyutping romanization (粵拼), essential for those who can't yet read or write Chinese characters.
- Can you speak Cantonese but struggle with typing? No problem! Google Translate now supports Cangjie (v5) (倉頡) and Cangjie (quick) for quick and efficient input.
- Need to translate handwritten notes? Google Translate now supports handwritten traditional (手寫) Cantonese characters as well.
Google Translate for Cantonese also features:
- Text-to-Voice: Hear Cantonese come to life with high-quality text-to-speech functionality
- Voice-to-Text: Speak Cantonese and see it instantly translated into written text
- Images: See restaurant menus, street signs, or any Cantonese text instantly translated in photos
- Documents: Effortlessly translate reports, presentations, or personal documents
- Websites: Translate entire websites and browse the web in Cantonese!
“Cantonese, with six distinctive tones, has always been regarded as one of the more difficult languages to grasp for non-native speakers. Google Translate’s addition of Cantonese goes beyond recognizing the identity of Cantonese speakers and has practical implications for learners in fostering cultural exchange and understanding.”
— David Fung, Translations Lead at Save Cantonese
Save Lives and Save Cantonese
For many vulnerable Cantonese speakers, especially the elderly, translation can be a matter of life and death. Google Translate can now bridge the gap in emergency situations, allowing Cantonese speakers to access critical information and services in their native tongue.
“Google translate has the ability to enable non English speaking patients communicate with their healthcare providers without the wait and now they can receive services without worry.”
— Julia Quon of Save Cantonese at CCSF
This is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Save Cantonese and for the entire Cantonese speaking and learning community. Let's continue to leverage technology to celebrate and preserve this rich language for generations to come!