NCJ Number
178316
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 47 Issue: 6 Dated: June 1999 Pages: 43-45
Date Published
June 1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article examines use of spoken language translation technology by law enforcement officers.
Abstract
With Spoken Language Translation technology, a person speaks into a computer, the computer translates the input into another language and generates the output in the desired language, either by text-to-speech or digital audio playback techniques. Somewhat less sophisticated is the Voice Response Translator (VRT), which sounds out preprogrammed phrases in various languages to elicit desired responses in both routine and emergency situations. The VRT can precisely record which and at what time statements are made, which is highly important for Miranda warnings and other statements that must be made in a specified manner. Until automated translation systems are routinely used, officers must rely on techniques such as the Point Talk Translators, where an officer finds the appropriate language and points to the most appropriate phrases to elicit the desired response.