Guwahati: Microsoft announced on Wednesday that Microsoft Translator will now provide real-time translation in Assamese language. The tech giant said that users can now translate text and speech into Assamese and vice-versa using its Translator service.
Powered by Azure Cognitive Service Speech, users will also be able to translate speech into Assamese text or translate Assamese text into another language with speech output.
This has increased the number of Indian languages supported by Microsoft to 12. Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu are the set on Indian languages supported by Microsoft applications.
“Microsoft has responsible approach to Artificial Intelligence, a key principle of which is inclusiveness. Breaking language barriers is a key step in enabling of more people and organizations to utilize technology to achieve more,” said Sundar Srinivasan, general manager, AI & Search, Microsoft India, in a statement.
Microsoft is adding Assamese on Bing, Office, and the Microsoft Translator website, as well as the Microsoft Translator app for Android, iOS and Windows. Microsoft said it aims to democratise the access of information in native languages. As per the company, it is currently the only cloud service to provide Assamese translation.
Assamese text translation is here! Translate #Assamese today to or from any of the more than 70 languages available in @MSTranslator using https://t.co/e1iSZk7X8n or the Translator app, or add it to your applications using Translator on @Azure https://t.co/78JR4i9Eu2
— Microsoft Translator (@mstranslator) September 29, 2020
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“As part of our mission to remove language barriers, particularly in India, we are happy to announce the release of translation for Assamese to add to the set of 11 Indian languages already supported.” Srinivasan added.
“It can help general users interpret real-time conversations, menus and street signs, websites, and documents. Companies can leverage it to globalize their business and strengthen customer outreach,” the company added.
Microsoft has been using Deep Neural Networks to develop language models for interpreting and construing complex Indian languages. Through which it has been able understand subtle language details such as gender connotations (feminine, masculine, neutral), level of civility (slang, casual, written, formal), and types of words (verb, noun, adjective).