In recent years, language translation apps on the Internet have become an ubiquitous tool to overcome linguistic barriers. While there are admittedly a few drawbacks, I believe the benefits of this trend will overshadow any disadvantages it may entail.
One obvious problem is that the translated content could be inaccurate. This is because the algorithm these apps use can only translate words to their closest meaning without understanding the context to reflect the whole picture, which can cause misinformation and awkward conversations. Moreover, if we rely too much on these automated translation programs, it can diminish our language learning effort since it will help us to bypass the foundational aspects of language learning, such as the syntax, grammar and vocabulary development. Consequently, we will struggle with word and idea production in real life situations. Ultimately, it will limit our abilities to achieve true fluency and cultural understanding.
However, despite these disadvantages, these apps also have impacted positively on how we overcome linguistic barriers. Firstly, the broad language coverage that they bring definitely helps us to understand multiple languages at ease which can potentially foster cross-culture interactions. Secondly, these apps enhance our work productivity due to the fact that they can simplify the process of checking foreign documents and even helps with the design and layout by indicating the spacing of words and lines in different languages. These conveniences save time and boost our overall productivity.
In conclusion, although there are a few setbacks when using online translation apps, they have ultimately helped us in our daily life or in the workplace by allowing us to overcome language barriers.