How is the universal translator device in Star Trek supposed to work?





.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0;
}







27















It is stated that Star Trek characters can talk freely with aliens using the universal translators, later built-in their com badges; but is it also mentioned somewhere how this device is supposed to work?










share|improve this question




















  • 20





    And a related question: how does the universal translator get the alien's lips to move in sync with the English translation?

    – Wikis
    Feb 1 '11 at 21:09






  • 1





    The lip sync thing is an obvious loop hole in any SciFi film/TV and it's easy to find various ludicrous conceits but it doesn't stop me enjoying the thing. Suspension of disbelief is required for most SciFi

    – kenneedham
    Oct 21 '11 at 10:58






  • 2





    This is the kind of question that, if you ask the creators, they'll just answer "It works well enough, thank you."

    – MPelletier
    Oct 24 '11 at 3:41






  • 1





    In addition to the other answers: here is a blog post explaining how real-life SETI scientists are trying to build a framework that can process unknown languages (interestingly, Star Trek's fictional design ideas may have merit).

    – Vadim Berman
    Oct 1 '16 at 17:25











  • Related on another site: How does the Universal Translator work?

    – Rand al'Thor
    Aug 10 '18 at 21:21


















27















It is stated that Star Trek characters can talk freely with aliens using the universal translators, later built-in their com badges; but is it also mentioned somewhere how this device is supposed to work?










share|improve this question




















  • 20





    And a related question: how does the universal translator get the alien's lips to move in sync with the English translation?

    – Wikis
    Feb 1 '11 at 21:09






  • 1





    The lip sync thing is an obvious loop hole in any SciFi film/TV and it's easy to find various ludicrous conceits but it doesn't stop me enjoying the thing. Suspension of disbelief is required for most SciFi

    – kenneedham
    Oct 21 '11 at 10:58






  • 2





    This is the kind of question that, if you ask the creators, they'll just answer "It works well enough, thank you."

    – MPelletier
    Oct 24 '11 at 3:41






  • 1





    In addition to the other answers: here is a blog post explaining how real-life SETI scientists are trying to build a framework that can process unknown languages (interestingly, Star Trek's fictional design ideas may have merit).

    – Vadim Berman
    Oct 1 '16 at 17:25











  • Related on another site: How does the Universal Translator work?

    – Rand al'Thor
    Aug 10 '18 at 21:21














27












27








27


4






It is stated that Star Trek characters can talk freely with aliens using the universal translators, later built-in their com badges; but is it also mentioned somewhere how this device is supposed to work?










share|improve this question
















It is stated that Star Trek characters can talk freely with aliens using the universal translators, later built-in their com badges; but is it also mentioned somewhere how this device is supposed to work?







star-trek movie languages






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Oct 21 '11 at 7:10









Wikis

30.2k43176272




30.2k43176272










asked Jan 12 '11 at 12:37









mbqmbq

2,1271619




2,1271619








  • 20





    And a related question: how does the universal translator get the alien's lips to move in sync with the English translation?

    – Wikis
    Feb 1 '11 at 21:09






  • 1





    The lip sync thing is an obvious loop hole in any SciFi film/TV and it's easy to find various ludicrous conceits but it doesn't stop me enjoying the thing. Suspension of disbelief is required for most SciFi

    – kenneedham
    Oct 21 '11 at 10:58






  • 2





    This is the kind of question that, if you ask the creators, they'll just answer "It works well enough, thank you."

    – MPelletier
    Oct 24 '11 at 3:41






  • 1





    In addition to the other answers: here is a blog post explaining how real-life SETI scientists are trying to build a framework that can process unknown languages (interestingly, Star Trek's fictional design ideas may have merit).

    – Vadim Berman
    Oct 1 '16 at 17:25











  • Related on another site: How does the Universal Translator work?

    – Rand al'Thor
    Aug 10 '18 at 21:21














  • 20





    And a related question: how does the universal translator get the alien's lips to move in sync with the English translation?

    – Wikis
    Feb 1 '11 at 21:09






  • 1





    The lip sync thing is an obvious loop hole in any SciFi film/TV and it's easy to find various ludicrous conceits but it doesn't stop me enjoying the thing. Suspension of disbelief is required for most SciFi

    – kenneedham
    Oct 21 '11 at 10:58






  • 2





    This is the kind of question that, if you ask the creators, they'll just answer "It works well enough, thank you."

    – MPelletier
    Oct 24 '11 at 3:41






  • 1





    In addition to the other answers: here is a blog post explaining how real-life SETI scientists are trying to build a framework that can process unknown languages (interestingly, Star Trek's fictional design ideas may have merit).

    – Vadim Berman
    Oct 1 '16 at 17:25











  • Related on another site: How does the Universal Translator work?

    – Rand al'Thor
    Aug 10 '18 at 21:21








20




20





And a related question: how does the universal translator get the alien's lips to move in sync with the English translation?

– Wikis
Feb 1 '11 at 21:09





And a related question: how does the universal translator get the alien's lips to move in sync with the English translation?

– Wikis
Feb 1 '11 at 21:09




1




1





The lip sync thing is an obvious loop hole in any SciFi film/TV and it's easy to find various ludicrous conceits but it doesn't stop me enjoying the thing. Suspension of disbelief is required for most SciFi

– kenneedham
Oct 21 '11 at 10:58





The lip sync thing is an obvious loop hole in any SciFi film/TV and it's easy to find various ludicrous conceits but it doesn't stop me enjoying the thing. Suspension of disbelief is required for most SciFi

– kenneedham
Oct 21 '11 at 10:58




2




2





This is the kind of question that, if you ask the creators, they'll just answer "It works well enough, thank you."

– MPelletier
Oct 24 '11 at 3:41





This is the kind of question that, if you ask the creators, they'll just answer "It works well enough, thank you."

– MPelletier
Oct 24 '11 at 3:41




1




1





In addition to the other answers: here is a blog post explaining how real-life SETI scientists are trying to build a framework that can process unknown languages (interestingly, Star Trek's fictional design ideas may have merit).

– Vadim Berman
Oct 1 '16 at 17:25





In addition to the other answers: here is a blog post explaining how real-life SETI scientists are trying to build a framework that can process unknown languages (interestingly, Star Trek's fictional design ideas may have merit).

– Vadim Berman
Oct 1 '16 at 17:25













Related on another site: How does the Universal Translator work?

– Rand al'Thor
Aug 10 '18 at 21:21





Related on another site: How does the Universal Translator work?

– Rand al'Thor
Aug 10 '18 at 21:21










7 Answers
7






active

oldest

votes


















18














It isn't consistent. The existence of this tech is almost always a way to explain away the problem of inter-species communication. One ST:TNG episode, Darmok goes deeper. And I would watch that one if you are interested in a deeper understanding on inter-species communication. And it is the one episode that explains, in detail, what the universal translator really does. It sees patterns in language and identifies the other words that the alien words mean. However it doesn't understand metaphor.



It is basically magic.



Like Mike Scott says, the alternative is every episode being about learning a new language. The show would have been about language, not what the show is about now.






share|improve this answer





















  • 2





    Well, Darmok explains how it translates, and this is only a tip of an iceberg; for instance, how does it deliver the translated from English message to the alien? How the user receives the alien words?

    – mbq
    Jan 12 '11 at 12:59






  • 3





    There is a DS9 episode where Quark goes back in time. Forget which. That talks about a small implant in the ear.

    – DampeS8N
    Jan 12 '11 at 13:09






  • 5





    you mean the classic "Little Green Men", including a scene with Quark, Rom and Nog hitting themselves on the ear to try to reset the malfunctioning UT.

    – AAT
    Jan 18 '11 at 23:19













  • @AAT: That's the one

    – DampeS8N
    Jan 18 '11 at 23:25











  • That is only for the Frangi, I remember hearing that the "intercom" medallion does UT translation using the com system.

    – JustinKaz
    Apr 28 '11 at 16:55



















14














In Star Trek: Enterprise you view various clues to how the translator is built. Hoshi Sato, supposed linguistic genuis, meets various alien races, and builds up the translator by adding in alien grammers combined with a speech processor and voice samples of the aliens language.



The translator would use AI, probably artifical, and similar to what is available in Google translate, (but much better, as it's set in fictional universe, but close it will be in this time frame) from a starting point, take a speech sample from the new alien, and use different search algorithms to match, on different alien database to find a similar or close matching grammer. From the grammer, the speech processor can take the grammer and enunciate possible speech patterns that the new aliens may understood, and by iterating down the search tree, zero in on a closer, possible better match, as they get more speech back from the alien.



But it would break, if non of the grammer was even a close match. Imagine two alien species seperated by say, 2000 light years. Their speech would be a different as basque, say one of those languages on earth, where you click the tongue, like tagalog.



Very similar to the way IBM recent computer match against the Jeopardy winners would works. Using search algorithms to map broken down question terms to possible answers.






share|improve this answer





















  • 3





    re "it would break, if non of the grammer was even a close match" -- there is a DS9 episode (Sanctuary) where a new species comes through the wormhole and because their language is so different the UT initially cannot cope, but over the course of the episode starts to 'learn' it. So it is shown to "break" but not permanently.

    – AAT
    Jan 18 '11 at 23:24











  • Of course. A voice pattern that didn't match, they be back scratching their .... in puzzlement.

    – scope_creep
    Jan 19 '11 at 1:01













  • Considering the question you spelt grammar wrong a lot there

    – GordonBennett
    16 hours ago



















8














In the Darmok episode of TNG, we get an insight into how it works.



Essentially, when encountering a new language, the universal translator takes samples of the new language and compares to known languages, and slowly builds up a database of words and phrases. In the episode linked, the UT has trouble understanding the alien language because they speak mostly in metaphors.



See also Universal translator for a more in-depth explanation, and more examples of episodes which feature the UT.






share|improve this answer



















  • 1





    I was thinking about this episode as well. It also shows the translators shortcomings. It managed to translate words, but not the actual meanings.

    – Teknophilia
    Jan 29 '11 at 16:46



















2














You might as well just think of it as magic. Like many other devices in Star Trek (e.g. the transporter), it's there for plot reasons rather than being based on any kind of scientific or technological extrapolation. In the case of the universal translator, it's so that they don't have to spend the first half of every episode with aliens on basic language lessons.






share|improve this answer
























  • Ok, that's why the question is about possible references.

    – mbq
    Jan 12 '11 at 13:01











  • Many references describe how the UT works, in its base what is known is the UT uses syntax translation. Tries with not much luck on undiscovered syntax's. I agree its a plot device, but Star Trek has tried to explain it many times, in varies episodes, across literary work.

    – JustinKaz
    Apr 28 '11 at 17:05



















2














The same way that most codes are broken in real life. It would search for frequently repeated words and sounds, and figure out what words would be used with the same frequency in the host language. Star Trek Corps of Engineers explained it a little more than in the series.






share|improve this answer































    2














    Copied from my answer in If there are universal translators, why are some words/phrases not translated?



    From http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Universal_translator (Which got it from TOS 2x02: Metamorphosis)




    Responding to Zefram Cochrane's question about the theory of
    operation, Kirk explained that there are certain universal ideas and
    concepts common to all intelligent life, and that the translator
    compared the frequencies of brainwave patterns, selected those ideas
    it recognized, and provided the necessary grammar. Kirk further
    explained that the device spoke with a voice, or the approximation of
    one, that corresponded to the identity concepts it recognized.




    Since it's already scanning brainwaves, presumably it can also detect intent (whether you want to be understood or not), and decide whether or not to translate as appropriate.



    Plus my comment on that answer, addressing Darmok and similar languages



    You're assuming their brainwave patterns were similar to general humanoids.... Like how Betazoid's can't read Ferengi because of their brain structure, there's a good chance the UT couldn't correctly interpret the Darmok aliens' thoughts because it had nothing like that to compare to.






    share|improve this answer

































      -1














      I always felt that the Star Trek Universal Translator worked directly with the brainwaves. It was similar to Farscape’s translator microbes, it makes you feel as if the other person was speaking in your language. This is actually shown in an episode of Discovery, we hear the Klingon speaking in Klingon with subtitles and once the UT is activated we hear them in English (or whatever human language the dub is in), the Klingon even says “I did not expect you to speak Klingon” and Michael says it is the translator. This would also explain why the Japanese heard people speaking in Japanese in “The 37” and how Picard and Data are capable of going undercover as Romulans into Romulus itself. You don’t really hear anything over the other person’s voice, you hear the person’s voice in your language because the trick is that your brain itself changes the meaning inside your head.



      Of course, this doesn’t explains the lip-sync, technically that should still be an issue. But everyone who has seen a dubbed movie (and I don’t mean the terrible bad old times dub of Asian martial art films, but the careful quality dubbing you can see in Western media like between Spanish, English and French) your mind ignores the lack of sync. I guess it could be hand-waved away that unless the language is too different and it takes you a lot of time to say one word your mind just overlooks the lack of sync like watching a dubbed film.






      share|improve this answer


























        Your Answer








        StackExchange.ready(function() {
        var channelOptions = {
        tags: "".split(" "),
        id: "186"
        };
        initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

        StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
        // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
        if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
        StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
        createEditor();
        });
        }
        else {
        createEditor();
        }
        });

        function createEditor() {
        StackExchange.prepareEditor({
        heartbeatType: 'answer',
        autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
        convertImagesToLinks: false,
        noModals: true,
        showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
        reputationToPostImages: null,
        bindNavPrevention: true,
        postfix: "",
        imageUploader: {
        brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
        contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
        allowUrls: true
        },
        noCode: true, onDemand: true,
        discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
        ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
        });


        }
        });














        draft saved

        draft discarded


















        StackExchange.ready(
        function () {
        StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f301%2fhow-is-the-universal-translator-device-in-star-trek-supposed-to-work%23new-answer', 'question_page');
        }
        );

        Post as a guest















        Required, but never shown

























        7 Answers
        7






        active

        oldest

        votes








        7 Answers
        7






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        18














        It isn't consistent. The existence of this tech is almost always a way to explain away the problem of inter-species communication. One ST:TNG episode, Darmok goes deeper. And I would watch that one if you are interested in a deeper understanding on inter-species communication. And it is the one episode that explains, in detail, what the universal translator really does. It sees patterns in language and identifies the other words that the alien words mean. However it doesn't understand metaphor.



        It is basically magic.



        Like Mike Scott says, the alternative is every episode being about learning a new language. The show would have been about language, not what the show is about now.






        share|improve this answer





















        • 2





          Well, Darmok explains how it translates, and this is only a tip of an iceberg; for instance, how does it deliver the translated from English message to the alien? How the user receives the alien words?

          – mbq
          Jan 12 '11 at 12:59






        • 3





          There is a DS9 episode where Quark goes back in time. Forget which. That talks about a small implant in the ear.

          – DampeS8N
          Jan 12 '11 at 13:09






        • 5





          you mean the classic "Little Green Men", including a scene with Quark, Rom and Nog hitting themselves on the ear to try to reset the malfunctioning UT.

          – AAT
          Jan 18 '11 at 23:19













        • @AAT: That's the one

          – DampeS8N
          Jan 18 '11 at 23:25











        • That is only for the Frangi, I remember hearing that the "intercom" medallion does UT translation using the com system.

          – JustinKaz
          Apr 28 '11 at 16:55
















        18














        It isn't consistent. The existence of this tech is almost always a way to explain away the problem of inter-species communication. One ST:TNG episode, Darmok goes deeper. And I would watch that one if you are interested in a deeper understanding on inter-species communication. And it is the one episode that explains, in detail, what the universal translator really does. It sees patterns in language and identifies the other words that the alien words mean. However it doesn't understand metaphor.



        It is basically magic.



        Like Mike Scott says, the alternative is every episode being about learning a new language. The show would have been about language, not what the show is about now.






        share|improve this answer





















        • 2





          Well, Darmok explains how it translates, and this is only a tip of an iceberg; for instance, how does it deliver the translated from English message to the alien? How the user receives the alien words?

          – mbq
          Jan 12 '11 at 12:59






        • 3





          There is a DS9 episode where Quark goes back in time. Forget which. That talks about a small implant in the ear.

          – DampeS8N
          Jan 12 '11 at 13:09






        • 5





          you mean the classic "Little Green Men", including a scene with Quark, Rom and Nog hitting themselves on the ear to try to reset the malfunctioning UT.

          – AAT
          Jan 18 '11 at 23:19













        • @AAT: That's the one

          – DampeS8N
          Jan 18 '11 at 23:25











        • That is only for the Frangi, I remember hearing that the "intercom" medallion does UT translation using the com system.

          – JustinKaz
          Apr 28 '11 at 16:55














        18












        18








        18







        It isn't consistent. The existence of this tech is almost always a way to explain away the problem of inter-species communication. One ST:TNG episode, Darmok goes deeper. And I would watch that one if you are interested in a deeper understanding on inter-species communication. And it is the one episode that explains, in detail, what the universal translator really does. It sees patterns in language and identifies the other words that the alien words mean. However it doesn't understand metaphor.



        It is basically magic.



        Like Mike Scott says, the alternative is every episode being about learning a new language. The show would have been about language, not what the show is about now.






        share|improve this answer















        It isn't consistent. The existence of this tech is almost always a way to explain away the problem of inter-species communication. One ST:TNG episode, Darmok goes deeper. And I would watch that one if you are interested in a deeper understanding on inter-species communication. And it is the one episode that explains, in detail, what the universal translator really does. It sees patterns in language and identifies the other words that the alien words mean. However it doesn't understand metaphor.



        It is basically magic.



        Like Mike Scott says, the alternative is every episode being about learning a new language. The show would have been about language, not what the show is about now.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited Jan 18 '16 at 19:09









        ibid

        44.3k18224343




        44.3k18224343










        answered Jan 12 '11 at 12:44









        DampeS8NDampeS8N

        22k896138




        22k896138








        • 2





          Well, Darmok explains how it translates, and this is only a tip of an iceberg; for instance, how does it deliver the translated from English message to the alien? How the user receives the alien words?

          – mbq
          Jan 12 '11 at 12:59






        • 3





          There is a DS9 episode where Quark goes back in time. Forget which. That talks about a small implant in the ear.

          – DampeS8N
          Jan 12 '11 at 13:09






        • 5





          you mean the classic "Little Green Men", including a scene with Quark, Rom and Nog hitting themselves on the ear to try to reset the malfunctioning UT.

          – AAT
          Jan 18 '11 at 23:19













        • @AAT: That's the one

          – DampeS8N
          Jan 18 '11 at 23:25











        • That is only for the Frangi, I remember hearing that the "intercom" medallion does UT translation using the com system.

          – JustinKaz
          Apr 28 '11 at 16:55














        • 2





          Well, Darmok explains how it translates, and this is only a tip of an iceberg; for instance, how does it deliver the translated from English message to the alien? How the user receives the alien words?

          – mbq
          Jan 12 '11 at 12:59






        • 3





          There is a DS9 episode where Quark goes back in time. Forget which. That talks about a small implant in the ear.

          – DampeS8N
          Jan 12 '11 at 13:09






        • 5





          you mean the classic "Little Green Men", including a scene with Quark, Rom and Nog hitting themselves on the ear to try to reset the malfunctioning UT.

          – AAT
          Jan 18 '11 at 23:19













        • @AAT: That's the one

          – DampeS8N
          Jan 18 '11 at 23:25











        • That is only for the Frangi, I remember hearing that the "intercom" medallion does UT translation using the com system.

          – JustinKaz
          Apr 28 '11 at 16:55








        2




        2





        Well, Darmok explains how it translates, and this is only a tip of an iceberg; for instance, how does it deliver the translated from English message to the alien? How the user receives the alien words?

        – mbq
        Jan 12 '11 at 12:59





        Well, Darmok explains how it translates, and this is only a tip of an iceberg; for instance, how does it deliver the translated from English message to the alien? How the user receives the alien words?

        – mbq
        Jan 12 '11 at 12:59




        3




        3





        There is a DS9 episode where Quark goes back in time. Forget which. That talks about a small implant in the ear.

        – DampeS8N
        Jan 12 '11 at 13:09





        There is a DS9 episode where Quark goes back in time. Forget which. That talks about a small implant in the ear.

        – DampeS8N
        Jan 12 '11 at 13:09




        5




        5





        you mean the classic "Little Green Men", including a scene with Quark, Rom and Nog hitting themselves on the ear to try to reset the malfunctioning UT.

        – AAT
        Jan 18 '11 at 23:19







        you mean the classic "Little Green Men", including a scene with Quark, Rom and Nog hitting themselves on the ear to try to reset the malfunctioning UT.

        – AAT
        Jan 18 '11 at 23:19















        @AAT: That's the one

        – DampeS8N
        Jan 18 '11 at 23:25





        @AAT: That's the one

        – DampeS8N
        Jan 18 '11 at 23:25













        That is only for the Frangi, I remember hearing that the "intercom" medallion does UT translation using the com system.

        – JustinKaz
        Apr 28 '11 at 16:55





        That is only for the Frangi, I remember hearing that the "intercom" medallion does UT translation using the com system.

        – JustinKaz
        Apr 28 '11 at 16:55













        14














        In Star Trek: Enterprise you view various clues to how the translator is built. Hoshi Sato, supposed linguistic genuis, meets various alien races, and builds up the translator by adding in alien grammers combined with a speech processor and voice samples of the aliens language.



        The translator would use AI, probably artifical, and similar to what is available in Google translate, (but much better, as it's set in fictional universe, but close it will be in this time frame) from a starting point, take a speech sample from the new alien, and use different search algorithms to match, on different alien database to find a similar or close matching grammer. From the grammer, the speech processor can take the grammer and enunciate possible speech patterns that the new aliens may understood, and by iterating down the search tree, zero in on a closer, possible better match, as they get more speech back from the alien.



        But it would break, if non of the grammer was even a close match. Imagine two alien species seperated by say, 2000 light years. Their speech would be a different as basque, say one of those languages on earth, where you click the tongue, like tagalog.



        Very similar to the way IBM recent computer match against the Jeopardy winners would works. Using search algorithms to map broken down question terms to possible answers.






        share|improve this answer





















        • 3





          re "it would break, if non of the grammer was even a close match" -- there is a DS9 episode (Sanctuary) where a new species comes through the wormhole and because their language is so different the UT initially cannot cope, but over the course of the episode starts to 'learn' it. So it is shown to "break" but not permanently.

          – AAT
          Jan 18 '11 at 23:24











        • Of course. A voice pattern that didn't match, they be back scratching their .... in puzzlement.

          – scope_creep
          Jan 19 '11 at 1:01













        • Considering the question you spelt grammar wrong a lot there

          – GordonBennett
          16 hours ago
















        14














        In Star Trek: Enterprise you view various clues to how the translator is built. Hoshi Sato, supposed linguistic genuis, meets various alien races, and builds up the translator by adding in alien grammers combined with a speech processor and voice samples of the aliens language.



        The translator would use AI, probably artifical, and similar to what is available in Google translate, (but much better, as it's set in fictional universe, but close it will be in this time frame) from a starting point, take a speech sample from the new alien, and use different search algorithms to match, on different alien database to find a similar or close matching grammer. From the grammer, the speech processor can take the grammer and enunciate possible speech patterns that the new aliens may understood, and by iterating down the search tree, zero in on a closer, possible better match, as they get more speech back from the alien.



        But it would break, if non of the grammer was even a close match. Imagine two alien species seperated by say, 2000 light years. Their speech would be a different as basque, say one of those languages on earth, where you click the tongue, like tagalog.



        Very similar to the way IBM recent computer match against the Jeopardy winners would works. Using search algorithms to map broken down question terms to possible answers.






        share|improve this answer





















        • 3





          re "it would break, if non of the grammer was even a close match" -- there is a DS9 episode (Sanctuary) where a new species comes through the wormhole and because their language is so different the UT initially cannot cope, but over the course of the episode starts to 'learn' it. So it is shown to "break" but not permanently.

          – AAT
          Jan 18 '11 at 23:24











        • Of course. A voice pattern that didn't match, they be back scratching their .... in puzzlement.

          – scope_creep
          Jan 19 '11 at 1:01













        • Considering the question you spelt grammar wrong a lot there

          – GordonBennett
          16 hours ago














        14












        14








        14







        In Star Trek: Enterprise you view various clues to how the translator is built. Hoshi Sato, supposed linguistic genuis, meets various alien races, and builds up the translator by adding in alien grammers combined with a speech processor and voice samples of the aliens language.



        The translator would use AI, probably artifical, and similar to what is available in Google translate, (but much better, as it's set in fictional universe, but close it will be in this time frame) from a starting point, take a speech sample from the new alien, and use different search algorithms to match, on different alien database to find a similar or close matching grammer. From the grammer, the speech processor can take the grammer and enunciate possible speech patterns that the new aliens may understood, and by iterating down the search tree, zero in on a closer, possible better match, as they get more speech back from the alien.



        But it would break, if non of the grammer was even a close match. Imagine two alien species seperated by say, 2000 light years. Their speech would be a different as basque, say one of those languages on earth, where you click the tongue, like tagalog.



        Very similar to the way IBM recent computer match against the Jeopardy winners would works. Using search algorithms to map broken down question terms to possible answers.






        share|improve this answer















        In Star Trek: Enterprise you view various clues to how the translator is built. Hoshi Sato, supposed linguistic genuis, meets various alien races, and builds up the translator by adding in alien grammers combined with a speech processor and voice samples of the aliens language.



        The translator would use AI, probably artifical, and similar to what is available in Google translate, (but much better, as it's set in fictional universe, but close it will be in this time frame) from a starting point, take a speech sample from the new alien, and use different search algorithms to match, on different alien database to find a similar or close matching grammer. From the grammer, the speech processor can take the grammer and enunciate possible speech patterns that the new aliens may understood, and by iterating down the search tree, zero in on a closer, possible better match, as they get more speech back from the alien.



        But it would break, if non of the grammer was even a close match. Imagine two alien species seperated by say, 2000 light years. Their speech would be a different as basque, say one of those languages on earth, where you click the tongue, like tagalog.



        Very similar to the way IBM recent computer match against the Jeopardy winners would works. Using search algorithms to map broken down question terms to possible answers.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited Jan 18 '11 at 22:58

























        answered Jan 18 '11 at 22:53









        scope_creepscope_creep

        925512




        925512








        • 3





          re "it would break, if non of the grammer was even a close match" -- there is a DS9 episode (Sanctuary) where a new species comes through the wormhole and because their language is so different the UT initially cannot cope, but over the course of the episode starts to 'learn' it. So it is shown to "break" but not permanently.

          – AAT
          Jan 18 '11 at 23:24











        • Of course. A voice pattern that didn't match, they be back scratching their .... in puzzlement.

          – scope_creep
          Jan 19 '11 at 1:01













        • Considering the question you spelt grammar wrong a lot there

          – GordonBennett
          16 hours ago














        • 3





          re "it would break, if non of the grammer was even a close match" -- there is a DS9 episode (Sanctuary) where a new species comes through the wormhole and because their language is so different the UT initially cannot cope, but over the course of the episode starts to 'learn' it. So it is shown to "break" but not permanently.

          – AAT
          Jan 18 '11 at 23:24











        • Of course. A voice pattern that didn't match, they be back scratching their .... in puzzlement.

          – scope_creep
          Jan 19 '11 at 1:01













        • Considering the question you spelt grammar wrong a lot there

          – GordonBennett
          16 hours ago








        3




        3





        re "it would break, if non of the grammer was even a close match" -- there is a DS9 episode (Sanctuary) where a new species comes through the wormhole and because their language is so different the UT initially cannot cope, but over the course of the episode starts to 'learn' it. So it is shown to "break" but not permanently.

        – AAT
        Jan 18 '11 at 23:24





        re "it would break, if non of the grammer was even a close match" -- there is a DS9 episode (Sanctuary) where a new species comes through the wormhole and because their language is so different the UT initially cannot cope, but over the course of the episode starts to 'learn' it. So it is shown to "break" but not permanently.

        – AAT
        Jan 18 '11 at 23:24













        Of course. A voice pattern that didn't match, they be back scratching their .... in puzzlement.

        – scope_creep
        Jan 19 '11 at 1:01







        Of course. A voice pattern that didn't match, they be back scratching their .... in puzzlement.

        – scope_creep
        Jan 19 '11 at 1:01















        Considering the question you spelt grammar wrong a lot there

        – GordonBennett
        16 hours ago





        Considering the question you spelt grammar wrong a lot there

        – GordonBennett
        16 hours ago











        8














        In the Darmok episode of TNG, we get an insight into how it works.



        Essentially, when encountering a new language, the universal translator takes samples of the new language and compares to known languages, and slowly builds up a database of words and phrases. In the episode linked, the UT has trouble understanding the alien language because they speak mostly in metaphors.



        See also Universal translator for a more in-depth explanation, and more examples of episodes which feature the UT.






        share|improve this answer



















        • 1





          I was thinking about this episode as well. It also shows the translators shortcomings. It managed to translate words, but not the actual meanings.

          – Teknophilia
          Jan 29 '11 at 16:46
















        8














        In the Darmok episode of TNG, we get an insight into how it works.



        Essentially, when encountering a new language, the universal translator takes samples of the new language and compares to known languages, and slowly builds up a database of words and phrases. In the episode linked, the UT has trouble understanding the alien language because they speak mostly in metaphors.



        See also Universal translator for a more in-depth explanation, and more examples of episodes which feature the UT.






        share|improve this answer



















        • 1





          I was thinking about this episode as well. It also shows the translators shortcomings. It managed to translate words, but not the actual meanings.

          – Teknophilia
          Jan 29 '11 at 16:46














        8












        8








        8







        In the Darmok episode of TNG, we get an insight into how it works.



        Essentially, when encountering a new language, the universal translator takes samples of the new language and compares to known languages, and slowly builds up a database of words and phrases. In the episode linked, the UT has trouble understanding the alien language because they speak mostly in metaphors.



        See also Universal translator for a more in-depth explanation, and more examples of episodes which feature the UT.






        share|improve this answer













        In the Darmok episode of TNG, we get an insight into how it works.



        Essentially, when encountering a new language, the universal translator takes samples of the new language and compares to known languages, and slowly builds up a database of words and phrases. In the episode linked, the UT has trouble understanding the alien language because they speak mostly in metaphors.



        See also Universal translator for a more in-depth explanation, and more examples of episodes which feature the UT.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Jan 12 '11 at 12:44









        NelliusNellius

        10.1k34548




        10.1k34548








        • 1





          I was thinking about this episode as well. It also shows the translators shortcomings. It managed to translate words, but not the actual meanings.

          – Teknophilia
          Jan 29 '11 at 16:46














        • 1





          I was thinking about this episode as well. It also shows the translators shortcomings. It managed to translate words, but not the actual meanings.

          – Teknophilia
          Jan 29 '11 at 16:46








        1




        1





        I was thinking about this episode as well. It also shows the translators shortcomings. It managed to translate words, but not the actual meanings.

        – Teknophilia
        Jan 29 '11 at 16:46





        I was thinking about this episode as well. It also shows the translators shortcomings. It managed to translate words, but not the actual meanings.

        – Teknophilia
        Jan 29 '11 at 16:46











        2














        You might as well just think of it as magic. Like many other devices in Star Trek (e.g. the transporter), it's there for plot reasons rather than being based on any kind of scientific or technological extrapolation. In the case of the universal translator, it's so that they don't have to spend the first half of every episode with aliens on basic language lessons.






        share|improve this answer
























        • Ok, that's why the question is about possible references.

          – mbq
          Jan 12 '11 at 13:01











        • Many references describe how the UT works, in its base what is known is the UT uses syntax translation. Tries with not much luck on undiscovered syntax's. I agree its a plot device, but Star Trek has tried to explain it many times, in varies episodes, across literary work.

          – JustinKaz
          Apr 28 '11 at 17:05
















        2














        You might as well just think of it as magic. Like many other devices in Star Trek (e.g. the transporter), it's there for plot reasons rather than being based on any kind of scientific or technological extrapolation. In the case of the universal translator, it's so that they don't have to spend the first half of every episode with aliens on basic language lessons.






        share|improve this answer
























        • Ok, that's why the question is about possible references.

          – mbq
          Jan 12 '11 at 13:01











        • Many references describe how the UT works, in its base what is known is the UT uses syntax translation. Tries with not much luck on undiscovered syntax's. I agree its a plot device, but Star Trek has tried to explain it many times, in varies episodes, across literary work.

          – JustinKaz
          Apr 28 '11 at 17:05














        2












        2








        2







        You might as well just think of it as magic. Like many other devices in Star Trek (e.g. the transporter), it's there for plot reasons rather than being based on any kind of scientific or technological extrapolation. In the case of the universal translator, it's so that they don't have to spend the first half of every episode with aliens on basic language lessons.






        share|improve this answer













        You might as well just think of it as magic. Like many other devices in Star Trek (e.g. the transporter), it's there for plot reasons rather than being based on any kind of scientific or technological extrapolation. In the case of the universal translator, it's so that they don't have to spend the first half of every episode with aliens on basic language lessons.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Jan 12 '11 at 12:41









        Mike ScottMike Scott

        50.6k4160205




        50.6k4160205













        • Ok, that's why the question is about possible references.

          – mbq
          Jan 12 '11 at 13:01











        • Many references describe how the UT works, in its base what is known is the UT uses syntax translation. Tries with not much luck on undiscovered syntax's. I agree its a plot device, but Star Trek has tried to explain it many times, in varies episodes, across literary work.

          – JustinKaz
          Apr 28 '11 at 17:05



















        • Ok, that's why the question is about possible references.

          – mbq
          Jan 12 '11 at 13:01











        • Many references describe how the UT works, in its base what is known is the UT uses syntax translation. Tries with not much luck on undiscovered syntax's. I agree its a plot device, but Star Trek has tried to explain it many times, in varies episodes, across literary work.

          – JustinKaz
          Apr 28 '11 at 17:05

















        Ok, that's why the question is about possible references.

        – mbq
        Jan 12 '11 at 13:01





        Ok, that's why the question is about possible references.

        – mbq
        Jan 12 '11 at 13:01













        Many references describe how the UT works, in its base what is known is the UT uses syntax translation. Tries with not much luck on undiscovered syntax's. I agree its a plot device, but Star Trek has tried to explain it many times, in varies episodes, across literary work.

        – JustinKaz
        Apr 28 '11 at 17:05





        Many references describe how the UT works, in its base what is known is the UT uses syntax translation. Tries with not much luck on undiscovered syntax's. I agree its a plot device, but Star Trek has tried to explain it many times, in varies episodes, across literary work.

        – JustinKaz
        Apr 28 '11 at 17:05











        2














        The same way that most codes are broken in real life. It would search for frequently repeated words and sounds, and figure out what words would be used with the same frequency in the host language. Star Trek Corps of Engineers explained it a little more than in the series.






        share|improve this answer




























          2














          The same way that most codes are broken in real life. It would search for frequently repeated words and sounds, and figure out what words would be used with the same frequency in the host language. Star Trek Corps of Engineers explained it a little more than in the series.






          share|improve this answer


























            2












            2








            2







            The same way that most codes are broken in real life. It would search for frequently repeated words and sounds, and figure out what words would be used with the same frequency in the host language. Star Trek Corps of Engineers explained it a little more than in the series.






            share|improve this answer













            The same way that most codes are broken in real life. It would search for frequently repeated words and sounds, and figure out what words would be used with the same frequency in the host language. Star Trek Corps of Engineers explained it a little more than in the series.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Jan 29 '11 at 0:32









            TeknophiliaTeknophilia

            8,01832665




            8,01832665























                2














                Copied from my answer in If there are universal translators, why are some words/phrases not translated?



                From http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Universal_translator (Which got it from TOS 2x02: Metamorphosis)




                Responding to Zefram Cochrane's question about the theory of
                operation, Kirk explained that there are certain universal ideas and
                concepts common to all intelligent life, and that the translator
                compared the frequencies of brainwave patterns, selected those ideas
                it recognized, and provided the necessary grammar. Kirk further
                explained that the device spoke with a voice, or the approximation of
                one, that corresponded to the identity concepts it recognized.




                Since it's already scanning brainwaves, presumably it can also detect intent (whether you want to be understood or not), and decide whether or not to translate as appropriate.



                Plus my comment on that answer, addressing Darmok and similar languages



                You're assuming their brainwave patterns were similar to general humanoids.... Like how Betazoid's can't read Ferengi because of their brain structure, there's a good chance the UT couldn't correctly interpret the Darmok aliens' thoughts because it had nothing like that to compare to.






                share|improve this answer






























                  2














                  Copied from my answer in If there are universal translators, why are some words/phrases not translated?



                  From http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Universal_translator (Which got it from TOS 2x02: Metamorphosis)




                  Responding to Zefram Cochrane's question about the theory of
                  operation, Kirk explained that there are certain universal ideas and
                  concepts common to all intelligent life, and that the translator
                  compared the frequencies of brainwave patterns, selected those ideas
                  it recognized, and provided the necessary grammar. Kirk further
                  explained that the device spoke with a voice, or the approximation of
                  one, that corresponded to the identity concepts it recognized.




                  Since it's already scanning brainwaves, presumably it can also detect intent (whether you want to be understood or not), and decide whether or not to translate as appropriate.



                  Plus my comment on that answer, addressing Darmok and similar languages



                  You're assuming their brainwave patterns were similar to general humanoids.... Like how Betazoid's can't read Ferengi because of their brain structure, there's a good chance the UT couldn't correctly interpret the Darmok aliens' thoughts because it had nothing like that to compare to.






                  share|improve this answer




























                    2












                    2








                    2







                    Copied from my answer in If there are universal translators, why are some words/phrases not translated?



                    From http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Universal_translator (Which got it from TOS 2x02: Metamorphosis)




                    Responding to Zefram Cochrane's question about the theory of
                    operation, Kirk explained that there are certain universal ideas and
                    concepts common to all intelligent life, and that the translator
                    compared the frequencies of brainwave patterns, selected those ideas
                    it recognized, and provided the necessary grammar. Kirk further
                    explained that the device spoke with a voice, or the approximation of
                    one, that corresponded to the identity concepts it recognized.




                    Since it's already scanning brainwaves, presumably it can also detect intent (whether you want to be understood or not), and decide whether or not to translate as appropriate.



                    Plus my comment on that answer, addressing Darmok and similar languages



                    You're assuming their brainwave patterns were similar to general humanoids.... Like how Betazoid's can't read Ferengi because of their brain structure, there's a good chance the UT couldn't correctly interpret the Darmok aliens' thoughts because it had nothing like that to compare to.






                    share|improve this answer















                    Copied from my answer in If there are universal translators, why are some words/phrases not translated?



                    From http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Universal_translator (Which got it from TOS 2x02: Metamorphosis)




                    Responding to Zefram Cochrane's question about the theory of
                    operation, Kirk explained that there are certain universal ideas and
                    concepts common to all intelligent life, and that the translator
                    compared the frequencies of brainwave patterns, selected those ideas
                    it recognized, and provided the necessary grammar. Kirk further
                    explained that the device spoke with a voice, or the approximation of
                    one, that corresponded to the identity concepts it recognized.




                    Since it's already scanning brainwaves, presumably it can also detect intent (whether you want to be understood or not), and decide whether or not to translate as appropriate.



                    Plus my comment on that answer, addressing Darmok and similar languages



                    You're assuming their brainwave patterns were similar to general humanoids.... Like how Betazoid's can't read Ferengi because of their brain structure, there's a good chance the UT couldn't correctly interpret the Darmok aliens' thoughts because it had nothing like that to compare to.







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:43









                    Community

                    1




                    1










                    answered Oct 23 '11 at 23:22









                    IzkataIzkata

                    54k10173275




                    54k10173275























                        -1














                        I always felt that the Star Trek Universal Translator worked directly with the brainwaves. It was similar to Farscape’s translator microbes, it makes you feel as if the other person was speaking in your language. This is actually shown in an episode of Discovery, we hear the Klingon speaking in Klingon with subtitles and once the UT is activated we hear them in English (or whatever human language the dub is in), the Klingon even says “I did not expect you to speak Klingon” and Michael says it is the translator. This would also explain why the Japanese heard people speaking in Japanese in “The 37” and how Picard and Data are capable of going undercover as Romulans into Romulus itself. You don’t really hear anything over the other person’s voice, you hear the person’s voice in your language because the trick is that your brain itself changes the meaning inside your head.



                        Of course, this doesn’t explains the lip-sync, technically that should still be an issue. But everyone who has seen a dubbed movie (and I don’t mean the terrible bad old times dub of Asian martial art films, but the careful quality dubbing you can see in Western media like between Spanish, English and French) your mind ignores the lack of sync. I guess it could be hand-waved away that unless the language is too different and it takes you a lot of time to say one word your mind just overlooks the lack of sync like watching a dubbed film.






                        share|improve this answer






























                          -1














                          I always felt that the Star Trek Universal Translator worked directly with the brainwaves. It was similar to Farscape’s translator microbes, it makes you feel as if the other person was speaking in your language. This is actually shown in an episode of Discovery, we hear the Klingon speaking in Klingon with subtitles and once the UT is activated we hear them in English (or whatever human language the dub is in), the Klingon even says “I did not expect you to speak Klingon” and Michael says it is the translator. This would also explain why the Japanese heard people speaking in Japanese in “The 37” and how Picard and Data are capable of going undercover as Romulans into Romulus itself. You don’t really hear anything over the other person’s voice, you hear the person’s voice in your language because the trick is that your brain itself changes the meaning inside your head.



                          Of course, this doesn’t explains the lip-sync, technically that should still be an issue. But everyone who has seen a dubbed movie (and I don’t mean the terrible bad old times dub of Asian martial art films, but the careful quality dubbing you can see in Western media like between Spanish, English and French) your mind ignores the lack of sync. I guess it could be hand-waved away that unless the language is too different and it takes you a lot of time to say one word your mind just overlooks the lack of sync like watching a dubbed film.






                          share|improve this answer




























                            -1












                            -1








                            -1







                            I always felt that the Star Trek Universal Translator worked directly with the brainwaves. It was similar to Farscape’s translator microbes, it makes you feel as if the other person was speaking in your language. This is actually shown in an episode of Discovery, we hear the Klingon speaking in Klingon with subtitles and once the UT is activated we hear them in English (or whatever human language the dub is in), the Klingon even says “I did not expect you to speak Klingon” and Michael says it is the translator. This would also explain why the Japanese heard people speaking in Japanese in “The 37” and how Picard and Data are capable of going undercover as Romulans into Romulus itself. You don’t really hear anything over the other person’s voice, you hear the person’s voice in your language because the trick is that your brain itself changes the meaning inside your head.



                            Of course, this doesn’t explains the lip-sync, technically that should still be an issue. But everyone who has seen a dubbed movie (and I don’t mean the terrible bad old times dub of Asian martial art films, but the careful quality dubbing you can see in Western media like between Spanish, English and French) your mind ignores the lack of sync. I guess it could be hand-waved away that unless the language is too different and it takes you a lot of time to say one word your mind just overlooks the lack of sync like watching a dubbed film.






                            share|improve this answer















                            I always felt that the Star Trek Universal Translator worked directly with the brainwaves. It was similar to Farscape’s translator microbes, it makes you feel as if the other person was speaking in your language. This is actually shown in an episode of Discovery, we hear the Klingon speaking in Klingon with subtitles and once the UT is activated we hear them in English (or whatever human language the dub is in), the Klingon even says “I did not expect you to speak Klingon” and Michael says it is the translator. This would also explain why the Japanese heard people speaking in Japanese in “The 37” and how Picard and Data are capable of going undercover as Romulans into Romulus itself. You don’t really hear anything over the other person’s voice, you hear the person’s voice in your language because the trick is that your brain itself changes the meaning inside your head.



                            Of course, this doesn’t explains the lip-sync, technically that should still be an issue. But everyone who has seen a dubbed movie (and I don’t mean the terrible bad old times dub of Asian martial art films, but the careful quality dubbing you can see in Western media like between Spanish, English and French) your mind ignores the lack of sync. I guess it could be hand-waved away that unless the language is too different and it takes you a lot of time to say one word your mind just overlooks the lack of sync like watching a dubbed film.







                            share|improve this answer














                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer








                            edited Aug 10 '18 at 5:14









                            Edlothiad

                            54.6k21287298




                            54.6k21287298










                            answered Aug 10 '18 at 5:00









                            DanielDaniel

                            1




                            1






























                                draft saved

                                draft discarded




















































                                Thanks for contributing an answer to Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange!


                                • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                                But avoid



                                • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                                • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                                To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                                draft saved


                                draft discarded














                                StackExchange.ready(
                                function () {
                                StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f301%2fhow-is-the-universal-translator-device-in-star-trek-supposed-to-work%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                                }
                                );

                                Post as a guest















                                Required, but never shown





















































                                Required, but never shown














                                Required, but never shown












                                Required, but never shown







                                Required, but never shown

































                                Required, but never shown














                                Required, but never shown












                                Required, but never shown







                                Required, but never shown







                                Popular posts from this blog

                                How to label and detect the document text images

                                Vallis Paradisi

                                Tabula Rosettana