METHOD AND PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING SPOKEN LANGUAGE TRANSLATION

In a portable unit, a method for performing spoken language translation. The method includes the steps of receiving at least one speech input comprising at least one source language, and recognizing at least one source expression of the at least one source language. The method also includes the steps of translating the recognized at least one source expression from the at least one source language to at least one target language, synthesizing at least one speech output from the translated at least one target language, and providing the at least one speech output. A set of source language expressions and a set of target language expressions are remotely extensible in some embodiments, using various communication methods. One embodiment further comprises the step of minimizing misrecognitions of the at least one source expression, wherein the misrecognitions result from factors comprising noise and speaker variation.