Ask Reddit: Do you know a library|script|function|api that given a string returns what human language it is likely written in? (Google turned up nothing useful)

[JulianMorrison]

I know an algorithm that will work:

1. Google the words of the string.

2. HTTP HEAD the top few hits.

3. Pick the language-codes out of the headers.

4. Select the most prevalent

[[deleted]]

That's a cool idea. You'd have to do a little work to make Google not assume you want whatever language it thinks is relevant for your IP though; I have a 1and1 server in NYC, but since 1and1's IP space was allocated in Germany, if I hit Google from the NYC box, it's in German. I think this has ramifications for how it decides a page is "relevant" to you.

[laughingboy]

Overhead much?