\n\n“J\u00e9r\u00f4me Piodi, a French Eurocrat who has spent more than a decade in public administration in the European Parliament and in related Parisian ministries, said the key factor in making progress in Europe is a common understanding of complex ideas. \u201cUntil very recently, access to instantaneous translation of speech and ideas was reserved to a certain kind of elite \u2014 the kind who could spend money to pay translators,\u201d Piodi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Europe has more than\u202f200 native languages and mutually incomprehensible dialects. All of its 24 official languages are highly developed, each with its own media, textbooks, movies and language academies. These languages, and their use in schools, workplaces and families, define a country\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But we\u2019re now living, for the first time, in an era where everyone in\u202fEurope \u2014 from politicians to cab drivers \u2014 can understand one another. It\u2019s true that previously, diplomats could communicate through translators and, typically, in English. Now, ordinary<\/em> Europeans can understand one another, instantly and accurately, and because of the compulsive lure of social media \u2014 and Twitter\u2019s decision to automatically translate every tweet \u2014 Europeans can and do talk to each other all day long. Talking to Ukrainians, and hearing directly from them, has hardened public support for sanctions and weapons transfers in the EU, despite Russian threats and soaring energy prices. Eurobarometer\u202fpolling\u202fshows<\/a> that 74 percent of EU citizens back the bloc\u2019s support for Kyiv.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n …<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Google Translate isn\u2019t the complete explanation for the newfound European unity, of course, but it\u2019s an underappreciated part of the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s had a huge effect on people and their ability to share ideas on social media,\u201d Piodi says. \u201cTwitter is a small window on the world; Google Translate made the window bigger.\u201d”<\/p>\n\n\n\n