Today, Microsoft Translator launches Cantonese text translation, the new language will be available throughout Microsoft Translator’s ecosystem of supported products* to empower individuals and organizations through quick and cost-effective translation. Cantonese (Language code YUE) is spoken by about 55 million people in China, and another 20M globally. With the new language, governments, communities and, people will be able to communicate back and forth across borders for both business and personal purposes, as Microsoft Translator currently supports Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Vietnamese, and Malay.

Microsoft Translator supports a wide range of Microsoft products and apps to communicate across language barriers in nearly any scenario where timely and cost effective translation is necessary. It is integrated into Bing, Microsoft Office (Word**, Word Online, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Publisher, OneNote, and Visio), SharePoint, Cortana, and Yammer. Microsoft Translator has a full suite of apps for PCs and mobile devices including Windows, Windows Phone, Android Phone and Android Wear, and iPhone and iPad, and Apple Watch.  The Document Translator allows you to quickly translate Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF documents individually or in batches. Cantonese will also be available as an instant messaging language in Skype for Windows desktop so that you can communicate in real time around the world. It is also available through the Microsoft Translator API, so developers can integrate Cantonese translation into their own products and apps.

Adding Cantonese brings us a step closer to our ultimate goal — permanently breaking down the language barriers that separate us, by allowing people to translate anything, anywhere, at any time. Cantonese speakers in Southeastern Asia and around the globe now have access to a wider range of information and culture, can interact with speakers of 50+ languages throughout the world, and have direct access to the rich history and culture of Cantonese speakers far and wide.

Learn More:

• Get Started with the Microsoft Translator API
• Microsoft Translator Apps
• How automatic translation works

*Some products to be updated soon.

**To activate Cantonese as a text translation language in Word, take the following steps:

1. Click on “review” then “translate” and “translate selected text”. (Note: do not try with the mini-translator or document options as the update menu is not available from these options.)
2. In the research pane, click on “get updates to your services” located at the bottom of the research pane
3. Follow the various pop-up windows prompts:
   • Update
   • Continue
   • Install
   • OK
4. Cantonese text translation will now be available as a translation language. To learn more about using Translator in Microsoft Word, check out this instructional video on YouTube.