In our increasingly mobile high tech world, where almost anyone can access information from almost anywhere with a smart phone or tablet, native languages of many small indigenous peoples across the globe are becoming rare. In fact, linguists are projecting that of the 14,000 different languages spoken across the globe today 7,000 may become extinct by the end of this century.
And it seems only fair that since our Internet connecting technology is at least in part responsible for the dwindling of some native languages; that technology might also offer a partial solution. And that is just what is happening! For example, in Canada the Inuit people have been working with Microsoft to integrate their native language into the OS of PCs and portable Internet connecting devices owned by tribe members. And this has in turn assisted them in teaching their young people more about their native language. And in Oregon the Native American Siletz tribe has been working with the National Geographic Fellows to digitally record their language, now spoken by less than ten people, for posterity.
Microsoft has also been working with language preservations in other parts of the globe including Spain, Wales and New Zealand to translate its software into native dialects.
NPR has an interesting article on this subject titled Digital Technologies Give Dying Languages New Life, here’s the link:
Have a great day!
Linda R.
Tech & Book Talk at SSCL 