Month: October 2023

Computational linguistics plays a crucial role in preserving languages, especially endangered or less-studied languages, by leveraging technology to document, analyze, and revitalize linguistic diversity. Here are some ways in which computational linguistics contributes to language preservation:

Documentation and Corpus Creation:

Computational linguists develop digital language corpora, which are extensive collections of texts and recordings in a particular language. These corpora serve as a comprehensive database for linguistic analysis and research.
Corpora help linguists document grammar, vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and phonetic features, preserving the linguistic richness of a language.

Language Documentation Tools:

Computational tools are developed to assist field linguists and anthropologists in collecting and transcribing audio recordings of native speakers.

These tools can help create language dictionaries, grammatical descriptions, and other linguistic resources that are vital for the preservation of less-studied languages.

Language Revitalization:

Computational linguistics can contribute to the creation of language learning resources and interactive applications that help teach and revitalize endangered languages.

Mobile apps, websites, and language learning software are designed to make learning the language more engaging and accessible.

Machine Translation:

Machine translation systems, often built with NLP (Natural Language Processing) techniques, can facilitate translation between a lesser-known language and a widely spoken one. This can make the language more accessible to a broader audience.

For instance, tools like Google Translate and DeepL support translation for numerous languages, including many less-commonly spoken ones.

Speech Recognition and Text-to-Speech Systems:

Computational linguistics aids in the development of speech recognition and text-to-speech systems for endangered languages. These technologies can make it easier to digitize spoken and written content.
Text-to-speech systems can also help in the creation of audiobooks, making literature in lesser-known languages accessible to a wider audience.

Phonetic and Phonological Analysis:

Computational techniques allow for the analysis of phonetic and phonological features of languages. This is essential for understanding and preserving pronunciation and accentual nuances.

Language Revival and Preservation Projects:

Computational linguistics can support language revitalization projects by providing tools and expertise to build language learning software, digitize written materials, and facilitate communication in the language.

Cultural Preservation:

Computational linguistics is not just limited to the linguistic aspects of language preservation. It also contributes to the preservation of cultural knowledge, oral traditions, and folklore associated with a language.

Collaborative Platforms:

Online platforms and databases allow linguists, researchers, and community members to collaborate and share their findings, resources, and language data, making it easier to work on the preservation of a language collectively.
In summary, computational linguistics provides the technology and methodologies required to document, analyze, and promote linguistic diversity. By creating digital resources, language learning tools, and facilitating communication in endangered languages, computational linguistics plays a crucial role in language preservation and revitalization efforts. It ensures that these languages remain accessible and relevant in an increasingly globalized world.

Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going. — Rita Mae Brown

An endangered language is a language at risk of becoming extinct or no longer spoken as a native language by a community of speakers. The endangerment of a language is often categorized into different levels, with varying degrees of vulnerability. 

I am providing UNESCO language endangerment classification here.

The UNESCO list has six categories of endangerment:

• Extinct: No speakers are left. (Note: The Atlas presumes extinction if no known speakers exist since the 1950s.)
• Critically endangered: The youngest speakers are grandparents and older, and they speak the language partially and infrequently
• Severely endangered: The language is spoken by grandparents and older generations. While the parent generation may understand it, they do not speak it to children or among themselves.
• Definitely endangered: Children no longer learn the language as a mother tongue in the home.
• Vulnerable: Most children speak the language, but it may be restricted to specific domains (e.g., home)
• Safe / Not Endangered: It is spoken by all generations, and intergenerational transmission is uninterrupted. (Note: These languages are not included in the Atlas because they are not endangered.)

Languages become endangered due to a variety of factors, some of which include:

1. Language Shift: Language shift is a primary reason for language endangerment. This shift occurs when a community, often under pressure from socioeconomic, political, or cultural factors, abandons its native language in favor of a more dominant or prestigious language. This shift often happens when people perceive that speaking a majority or global language is more advantageous.
2. Small and Isolated Communities: Languages spoken by small, isolated communities are more vulnerable because they have limited opportunities to interact with speakers of other languages and may face challenges in transmitting their language to the younger generation.
3. Colonialism and Forced Assimilation: In many cases, colonial powers imposed their languages on indigenous populations, leading to the decline and eventual endangerment of native languages.
4. Globalization: The spread of global media, technology, and the internet has made dominant languages more accessible and appealing, contributing to the decline of more minor regional languages.
5. Lack of Documentation and Revitalization Efforts: Languages that lack written records or documentation are particularly vulnerable because there are no resources for future generations to learn and study the language. Furthermore, if communities do not actively promote and revitalize their language through education and cultural activities, it can lead to endangerment.

Efforts to combat language endangerment include language revitalization programs, documenting endangered languages, and supporting language transmission to younger generations. However, many endangered languages continue to face challenges, and the loss of linguistic diversity is a significant concern for cultural preservation and understanding. Recognizing the value of linguistic diversity and the cultural heritage languages represent and taking steps to protect and revitalize them is essential.

One of the endangered languages of Rajasthan is Dhatki, also known as Dhatti. It was once spoken by the Dhatti community in the Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan. This language belonged to the Indo-Aryan language group and had linguistic ties to Marwari. Unfortunately, Dhatki is considered an extinct language, with no known fluent speakers left. It was traditionally spoken by Maheshwari, Meghwal and sodha Rajput communities. Other two languages at verge of extinction are Thali and Dhavadi, both are spoken in some villages of Udaipur and Jaisalmer.

Hi friends,

Google translate does not have an option to translate Rajasthani language. To keep our language alive, it is imperative that it gets recognition at every possible platform. Rajasthan’s literary history is vast and ancient. Not enough has been done to make our literary heritage available to general population. I have signed this petition to include Rajasthani language in Google translate. I encourage you to do the same for the sake of our language and culture. Thanks!

 

https://chng.it/r5LrhDkfft