The goal of the Speech-to-Speech Translation (S2S) research is to enable real-time, interpersonal communication via natural spoken language for people who do not share a common language. The Multilingual Automatic Speech-to-Speech Translator (MASTOR) system is the first S2S system that allows for bidirectional (English-Mandarin) free-form speech input and output.

Speech-to-speech translation systems have the potential to revolutionize the way people around the world who do not speak a common language communicate with one another. There are thousands of different languages spoken; imagine being able to communicate with anyone instantly through the assistance of a universal translator.