Users of the iPhone 4S have been struggling to get along with voice-software Siri, after the ‘intelligent assistant’ can’t understand the accent.
Many Scottish iPhone users have found themselves struggling to use the new Siri voice-recognition feature, because the intelligent assistant cannot understand the accent.
Siri has been a focus for technologists worldwide after Apple’s latest iPhone 4S came bundled with the voice-activated technology, and seemingly reacts to unexpected responses and dialectic differences — like, “what is the meaning of life?”, responding with a number of pre-defined answers.
But users of the iPhone 4S in Scotland have been left with Siri, on the most part, not understanding what has been said.
See: ZD net
Also see this funny video on voice-recognition technology failing to understand the accent
Испания
Local time: 17:24
испанский => английский
+ ...
The problem is nothing new, as we can see from the Burnistoun lift sketch in the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FFRoYhTJQQ
[Edited at 2011-10-29 16:37 GMT]
However, I've had no trouble with my recently acquired Arthurian-sounding VR software, unlike my brummi... See more
The problem is nothing new, as we can see from the Burnistoun lift sketch in the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FFRoYhTJQQ
[Edited at 2011-10-29 16:37 GMT]
However, I've had no trouble with my recently acquired Arthurian-sounding VR software, unlike my brummie mate who's been using it for donkeys...
[Edited at 2011-10-29 16:40 GMT] ▲ Collapse
Великобритания
Local time: 16:24
иврит => английский
....by two things in the article...
1. Not shocked in the slightest that this voice recognition technology, like most others, is about as much use as flippers on a donkey.
2. That Americans need to be told where Scotland is: "Scotland, the country land-attached to the north of England".
Saying that, the Scottish accent is pretty impenetrable (sorry Neil).
США
Local time: 08:24
английский => немецкий
+ ...
2. That Americans need to be told where Scotland is: "Scotland, the country land-attached to the north of England".
I wonder how many Brits can find New Scotland / Nova Scotia on the map immediately.
Испания
Local time: 17:24
испанский => английский
+ ...
Saying that, the Scottish accent is pretty impenetrable (sorry Neil).
Of course, you mean that Scottish accents (or dialects/slang etc) CAN BE impenetrable. Most educated people will (consciously or unconsciously) modify the way they speak to suit the interlocutor. For example, when my weegie friends and I address my brummie chum, he understands us, but when we talk amongst ourselves he sometimes starts to flounder.
As they say in Spain: "hablando se entiende la gente"
Local time: 16:24
испанский => английский
+ ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlUb8jt0WP0
Personally, I've always thought that there should be subtitles on UK TV for any programmes featuring Scottish accents......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlUb8jt0WP0
Personally, I've always thought that there should be subtitles on UK TV for any programmes featuring Scottish accents......
Великобритания
Local time: 16:24
иврит => английский
2. That Americans need to be told where Scotland is: "Scotland, the country land-attached to the north of England".
I wonder how many Brits can find New Scotland / Nova Scotia on the map immediately.
The Americans' geographical awareness is a bit of a running joke here (maybe a stereotype even), much like the American stereotype that we all run around with rotten teeth.
What I found slightly bizarre was that this was spelled out in a public article. If, for example, I was reading a story about Canada, I wouldn't expect them to say "Nova Scotia, the bit sticking out on the Atlantic Ocean at the bottom, near America."
I just found it a bit conspicuous that's all.
[Edited at 2011-10-30 12:06 GMT]
Испания
Local time: 17:24
Член ProZ.com
каталанский (каталонский) => английский
+ ...
Saying that, the Scottish accent is pretty impenetrable (sorry Neil).
Of course, you mean that Scottish accents (or dialects/slang etc) CAN BE impenetrable. Most educated people will (consciously or unconsciously) modify the way they speak to suit the interlocutor. For example, when my weegie friends and I address my brummie chum, he understands us, but when we talk amongst ourselves he sometimes starts to flounder.
As they say in Spain: "hablando se entiende la gente"
Норвегия
Local time: 17:24
Член ProZ.com c 2002
английский => норвежский
+ ...
According to an interview I heard a couple of years ago on the CBC, businesspeople using standard English sometimes need and interpreter when in Glasgow.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8306582.stm
Anyone care to enlighten me on the linguistic and social stratification of Glaswegian?
[Edited at 2011-10-30 22:25 GMT]
Испания
Local time: 17:24
испанский => английский
+ ...
When I was at school, we had one way of speaking for the classroom, another for the playground and yet another for when we went tattie picking (potato picking)!
Indeed, I remember at about 8 years of age asking my mum why her voice and manner changed when she answered the phone, which I found somehow embarrassing. I also remember being ridiculed by other kids when in hospital aged ten for being "posh", because of the way I spoke. You eventually grow to accept it and follow the norms, switching from one register or style to another, often unconsciously.
BTW, I recently re-read Bill Bryson's "Notes from a Small Island" and the bit towards the end when he visits a Glasgow pub is hilarious. I'll never quite get used to people asking me where I'm from when I go back to Scotland nowadays, as my accent has softened quite a bit after living abroad.
NB: I was in hospital for appendicitis, not because I was suffering from a poshness OD ... Mea culpa.
[Edited at 2011-11-01 12:04 GMT]
Испания
Local time: 17:24
испанский => английский
+ ...
2. That Americans need to be told where Scotland is...
When I was in Russia in the 1980s, many people confused Scotland with Holland (they can sound quite similar in Russian) and when told it was to the north of England, a lot of them assumed that all British (= English) people were white, caucasian, tall and often wore bowler hats.
I remember one man asking me if my country was hot or cold, and if black people lived there. When I answered cold and yes, he said "but don't they live in hot countries?". I asssume things there have moved on by now... I hope so anyway.
Испания
Local time: 17:24
испанский => английский
+ ...
According to an interview I heard a couple of years ago on the CBC, businesspeople using standard English sometimes need and interpreter when in Glasgow.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8306582.stm
Anyone care to enlighten me on the linguistic and social stratification of Glaswegian?
[Edited at 2011-10-30 22:25 GMT]
I could go on about it anecdotally for ages if I had time, but found this article abstract (which I haven't read myself) from the 1970s online: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=93A187549E7DD700912D7A41AF5ED7C1.journals?fromPage=online&aid=2987472
Великобритания
Local time: 16:24
иврит => английский
2. That Americans need to be told where Scotland is...
When I was in Russia in the 1980s, many people confused Scotland with Holland (they can sound quite similar in Russian) and when told it was to the north of England, a lot of them assumed that all British (= English) people were white, caucasian, tall and often wore bowler hats.
I remember one man asking me if my country was hot or cold, and if black people lived there. When I answered cold and yes, he said "but don't they live in hot countries?". I asssume things there have moved on by now... I hope so anyway.
I taught some Russians about 2 years ago (teenagers), they were a fantastic bunch, but they were dismayed at the multi-culturalism. I think they expected a rather different England to the one they encountered.
I've also noticed from the language they use, not just from Russians, but from many Polish too, that Eastern Europe is still not as....accustomed to multi-culturalism.
Typo
[Edited at 2011-10-31 12:48 GMT]
Великобритания
Local time: 16:24
Член ProZ.com c 2008
итальянский => английский
2. That Americans need to be told where Scotland is: "Scotland, the country land-attached to the north of England".
I wonder how many Brits can find New Scotland / Nova Scotia on the map immediately.
I can, but maybe that's because I'm an admirer of the short stories of Alistair MacLeod - which are all about the Scots-Canadians. And maybe also because I'm not a Brit.
(hint: not everyone in London is British).
[Edited at 2011-10-31 10:57 GMT]
Великобритания
Local time: 16:24
Член ProZ.com c 2008
итальянский => английский
I taught some Russians about 2 years ago (teenagers), they were a fantastic bunch, but they were dismayed at the mutli-culturalism.
Yes, it's amazing how racist some of those Eastern Europeans are. It's like suddenly finding yourself back in some primitve time.
[Edited at 2011-10-31 11:06 GMT]
Великобритания
Local time: 16:24
Член ProZ.com c 2008
итальянский => английский
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPsAa86Y_Ho&feature=related
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