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Launch a language-translation phone line for Editor’s note:
international travellers. The traveller would carry one A live translation
internationally recognised number specific to their service for telephone
native language and the call centre would route their calls might also prove
call through to the appropriate translator. Callers would popular. It would be
explain what they wanted to say before repeating the no more complicated
than a multi-lingual
79translated phrases or handing the phone over to the call-centre operator
sitting in on a
conference call. The

shop assistant, taxi driver or policeman. idea need not be

limited to the

Steve Sargent translation of foreign
21 November 2000 languages –

grandparents could

80Introduce a premium rate phone-line service to be use the service to
manned 24 hours a day by company personnel who would communicate with
consider any question and simply answer with a ‘Yes’, their rather more
‘No’ or ‘Please rephrase the question’ to the best of theirstreetwise and slang-
ability and knowledge. Anyone could call the line and ask happy grandchildren,
anything they liked. Although it is possible that perhaps.
politicians and chairs of major companies might call, the
service would most likely appeal as a novelty way to

settle arguments or as a lifeline for desperate individuals

in need of guidance but distrustful of telephone psychics.

David Owen
22 November 2000