In a recent New York Times op-ed, former Harvard University president Larry Summers speculated that, given the advances in translation software technology, foreign language study may soon be obsolete. The article provoked such an uproar that the Times created a forum to discuss it. To continue the debate, we’ve invited University of Minnesota history professor and linguist Giancarlo Casale (my son) to join us together with David Bellos, who directs the Program in Translation at Princeton.
Guest
Giancarlo Casale, "Associate Professor of History at the University of Minnesota and Executive Editor of the Journal of Early Modern History; his book, The Ottoman Age of Exploration won "The Cundill Recognition of Excellence Award."
David Bellos, Man Booker International Translator’s Award winner and Director of the Program in Translation and Intercultural Communication at Princeton University. His latest book: Is that a fish in your ear? Translation and the Meaning of Everything