U.S.S. Voyager : UNIVERSAL TRANSLATORS

Contents   Introduction. What is the Universal Translator? Design and Development history. How the Universal Translator works. Universal Translator limitations. Miscellaneous.

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Communication with new lifeforms and new civilisations during the exploration of space has been made easier with the development of the Universal Translator program which, by the 24th century, are far more sophisticated and faster than the devices used by linguistics expert Hoshi Sato during the historic flight of exploration by the NX-01 Enterprise in the mid-22nd century.

The Universal Translator is a highly sophisticated computer program, although the term "Universal Translator" is almost always also taken to mean the device which contains it.

The Universal Translator provides real-time two-way translation of spoken languages. The technical ability to exchange data is only part of what is needed to permit communication; a common set of symbols and concepts - a language - is equally important. This is difficult enough on a planet where individuals of the same species speak different languages, but it becomes a formidable task indeed when dealing with individuals from different planets who may share neither biology, culture, nor concepts. There are instances where the Universal Translator has failed to cope with certain languages or forms of communication (for Voyager's experiences in that regard, this is discussed below, 'Universal Translator limitations').

The Universal Translator is designed to first analyse the patterns of an unknown form of communication, then to derive a translation matrix to permit real-time verbal or data exchanges. Although the Universal Translator is mainly intended to work with spoken communications, it has been used successfully for translation with a wide range of language media.

Captain James Tiberius Kirk used a handheld universal translator to communicate with the lifeform known as the Companion in 2267 [TOS: Metamorphosis]. A software version of the Universal Translator was programmed into the main computer of USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D which, among other things, enabled real-time communications with such lifeforms as the nanites [TNG: Evolution].

Janeway points to her combadge as she explains about the Universal Translator [The 37's]

Apart from shipboard Universal Translators, by 2364 Starfleet personal communicator badges incorporated miniature Universal Translators (the badges are often known by the abbreviation "combadge") (The date is known from [TNG: Encounter at Farpoint], stardate 41153 and [TNG]'s first story, and the calendar year of [TNG]'s first season is established in [TNG: The Neutral Zone].) Janeway explains that there is a Universal Translator in every combadge to the 37s whom Voyager encounter in 2371, on stardate 48975, in [#20 The 37's].

Certain Ferengi choose to wear tiny versions of the Universal Translator in their outer ear, providing unobtrusive operation [DS9: Little Green Men] although this means some comical inconvenience e.g. when trying to locate its reset button; such devices can, however, be disrupted by exposure to beta radiation. It is not known, however, whether the two Ferengi Kol and Arridor whom Voyager encountered in 2373 in [#47 False Profits] wore their Universal Translators in their ears, nor whether the three Ferengi, Nunk, Gegis and Yeggie, who tried to destroy Voyager's crew in 2377 in [#152 Inside Man] did so either; we know only that they must have had Universal Translators in order to communicate with other species.

The Universal Translator operates by sensing and comparing brain-wave frequencies, then selecting comparable concepts to use as a basis for translation [TOS]. An adequate sample of the unknown language is required in order to establish a translation matrix [DS9: Sanctuary], and preferably as large a sample as possible. Wherever possible, this sample should include examples of at least two native speakers actually conversing with each other. Extensive pattern analysis yields estimates on symbology, syntax, usage patterns, vocabulary, and cultural factors. Given an adequate sample, it is usually possible to derive a highly simplified language subset in moments, although Federation policy generally requires a much more extensive analysis before diplomatic usage of the Universal Translator is permitted.

In the case where the individual lifeform communicated with has a similar language translation technology, it is sometimes useful to translate outgoing messages into linguacode. Linguacode's format is specially designed as a culturally neutral "anti-encrypted" language medium (unlike normal encryption which serves to conceal information), and it has shown itself to be understandable by nearly any technologically sophisticated intelligence. It is sometimes used in first contact situations such as with V'Ger [Star Trek: The Motion Picture] or Tin Man ("Tin Man" is the Starfleet designation for the living spacecraft discovered in 2366; Tin Man called itself Gomtuu) [TNG: Tin Man].

The combadge universal translator (UT) circuit is equipped with the basic conversational libraries of 253 galactic civilizations plus the linguistic analysis routines for basic translations.

During face-to-face contact, communication can also be assisted by non-verbal communication. In 2374, [#74 The Raven], the two representatives of the B'omar Sovereignty come aboard Voyager to stipulate the flight path to be taken through B'omar territory. The flight path is convoluted and would take Voyager weeks if not months to travel. The Chancellor's aide Dumah responds sarcastically: "No, no. Are your translators malfunctioning?" (Behind-the-scenes: the script says: "The B'omar are suspicious, fastidious, and quirky, and more 'sarcastic' than any aliens we've met.") The sarcasm is evident not just from the words and tone but by Dumah's face and Chancellor Gaumen's smile at Dumah's quip.

[The Raven]

[The Raven]

The accuracy and applicability of the translation matrix is only as good as the language sample on which the matrix is based. A limited sample will generally permit a basic exchange of concepts, but can lead to highly distorted translations when concepts, vocabulary, or usage vary too far from the sample. Since the Universal Translator constantly updates the translation matrix during the course of usage, it is often useful to allow the program to accumulate a larger linguistic sample by exchanging simple subjects before proceeding to the discussion of more complex or sensitive subjects.

Two of the Swarm materialise on a shuttlecraft crewed by Torres and Paris

In 2373, on stardate 50252, in [#46 The Swarm], Voyager's Universal Translator program has great difficulty in translating the language used by the xenophobic civilisation called the Swarm. Attempts to adjust the universal translator succeed only in translating the gist of the Swarm's clicking language. Kim reports: "It's something like: too late, should have listened."

In 2375, in [#107 Gravity], when Paris and Tuvok are trapped on a planet confined within a gravity sinkhole, the Universal Translator is offline so they are unable to communicate with Noss who, like them, has crashlanded on the planet and unable to escape. Fortunately a Universal Translator is built into the Emergency Medical Holographic program, so the Doctor is able to communicate with her. Over the several months that they live together, Noss learns enough English to be able to communicate with Paris and Tuvok, no doubt thanks to the Doctor's help along with the Universal Translator. Noss appears and, seeing a stranger, the Doctor, draws her gun and aims it. She issues a challenge. The Doctor replies in her language with words of reassurance. Paris: "You speak her language?" Doctor: "A universal translator was written into my program." Paris: "Ask her how long she's been here, if she knows a way to get back through that sinkhole." The Doctor and Noss converse. As she finishes speaking she puts her gun away. Paris: "What's she say?" Doctor: "She said she's been here fourteen seasons and in that time she's seen many ships come down but she's never seen one go back up again."

The Tak Tak, whose consul Janeway and Neelix meet in 2373, stardate 50425, in [#54 Macrocosm], employ a ritualistic body language as their main form of communication, which means that the Universal Translator by itself is not sufficient. Neelix's knowledge and experience comes in useful and when, during their first contact, Janeway accidentally insults the consul by putting her hands on her hips (a common habit of hers) only Neelix's diplomatic skills manage to extricate her from the awkward situation. (There are screenshots of Janeway with hands on hips at CREW: Janeway: Miscellaneous.)

Tova Veer, a member of the Voth species [Distant Origin]

Voyager encounters the Voth in 2363, stardate unknown, in [#65 Distant Origin]. In moments of panic or stress members of the Voth civilisation make clicking noises which seem to indicate mood rather than represent specific words and cannot be translated by the Universal Translator.

Fennim, one of the members of the Think Tank encountered by the Voyager crew in 2375, is a humanoid whose language is so complex that the universal translator cannot understand it. [#114 Think Tank]

[The Void]

In 2377, in [#161 The Void], Voyager encounters a humanoid who, like the rest of his race, is nomadic and born in the Void. The Doctor calls him Fantome for they communicate using musical notes and use PADDs to generate the notes, as no one can communicate with him verbally became he has no spoken language. Fantome talks to Tuvok in the new "language". The Doctor translates. Fantome and others of his kind converse in the new "language".

Arturis, "a living Universal Translator" [Hope and Fear]

In late 2374, in [#94 Hope and Fear], Neelix enthusiastically introduces Arturis to Janeway: "Captain, he's a genius! I was trying to negotiate with a xenon-based lifeform when the Universal Translator went offline. Arturis here stepped in and acted as a perfect go-between, and he'd never heard either of our languages!" Janeway later tells Arturis: "I can't say I've ever met a living Universal Translator." He replies: "My people have a way with languages. I myself know over four thousand." However, it turns out that Arturis has hostile intentions towards Voyager's crew - meeting them and helping them to decipher Starfleet's message using his language skills are part of a fiendish plot to deliver ship and crew to the Borg, as revenge for what he sees as Janeway's deliverance of his people to the Borg due to Voyager's alliance with the Borg against the Borg's enemy Species 8472 (in late 2373/early 2374 [#68 and #69 Scorpion]).

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