As globalization continues to take hold, the ability to speak multiple languages becomes increasingly important. In a world where communication is key, not being able to understand another language can put up barriers and hinder progress. But what about when you come across a language you’ve never seen or heard of before? How can you identify it? Here are five tools to help you figure out what language you’re looking at.

1. Google Translate

Google Translate has an option for detecting the language of a text. All you have to do is copy and paste the text into the translation box, and Google will tell you what language it is in. While this tool is not perfect, it can certainly help you narrow down your options.

2. Language-detection API

Companies like Amazon and Google offer language-detection APIs that developers can use to identify the language of a text. These APIs use machine learning algorithms to analyze the text and determine the language. If you’re not a developer, you can still use these services by finding apps or websites that utilize these APIs.

3. Language identifier tool

There are standalone tools that are designed specifically for identifying languages. For example, Language Identifier is a free online tool that can identify over 400 languages. All you have to do is paste the text into the tool and it will tell you what language it is in.

4. Linguistic experts

If the text you’re trying to identify is particularly challenging or rare, you may need to turn to a linguistic expert. Linguists can analyze the text and determine its origins and characteristics. While this is the most expensive option, it’s also the most accurate.

5. Social media platforms

If all else fails, you can always turn to social media. There are communities on Facebook and Reddit dedicated to helping people identify unknown languages. By posting a photo, video, or text, you can get feedback and suggestions from other users who may have experience with similar languages.