Methods and systems for language translation

A method of operating a server to provide a language translation service, the method comprising:

• storing a first language dependent database that corresponds to a first pair of languages;
• storing a second language dependent database that corresponds to a second pair of languages that is different than the first pair;
• receiving from a client a request for translation;
• and
• responding to the request by transferring at least a copy of one of the first and second language dependent databases to the client.

An apparatus for implementing a language translation service, comprising:

• an input mechanism adapted to receive a user input;
• a processor coupled to the input mechanism and adapted to receive an input signal that corresponds to the user input;
• a memory coupled to the processor;
• a language dependent database stored in the memory, the language dependent database containing a translation dictionary and a plurality of sample sentences;
• and
• a language independent translation engine stored in the memory, the processor being adapted to select a sample sentence based on the user input, and being further adapted to utilize the language independent translation engine to apply the translation dictionary to the sample sentence to produce a translation that is output to the user.