The Use of Digital Technologies for Language Revitalization
The document discusses the use of digital technologies for language revitalization. It outlines a 5 stage process: 1) Documentation of languages through audio/video recordings sent to linguists online. 2) Dissemination of languages through digital media like TV, radio, videos and websites to reach larger audiences. 3) Communication technologies help maintain connections between linguistic communities dealing with issues like emigration. 4) Online education can help with language teaching for monolingual children and those attending school away from their communities. 5) Commercialization of languages through activities like ethnotourism, e-commerce and self-publishing can provide economic opportunities and dignity. The document describes a project implemented in Argentina from 2007-2011 with indigenous communities.
The Use of Digital Technologies for Language Revitalization
- 1. The Use of Digital Technologies for Language Revitalization Evaristo Ovide University of Salamanca Cambridge, 25-3-2011
- 2. Languages in the world About 96% of the world population speaks 4 % of the existent languages. From 6000 languages to 3000 in a century (a language dies every 2 weeks) Language as main representative of a culture
- 3. Starting point Budget: close to zero Minimum dependence on the Internet and Digital Technologies (DDTT). Basic technical expertise Approval & support of the indigenous community Aim: exportable model
- 4. 5 stages
- 5. Documentation " it's too late to do anything to help many languages, where the speakers are too few or too old, and where the community is too busy just trying to survive to care about their language " - David Crystal Hebrew DDTT: audio & video recordings sent to linguists online: transcription,grammars, etc.
- 6. Dissemination Digital media: Audience potentially greater No censorship Cost close to zero DDTT: digital tv/radio; subtitling in videos; blogs; websites...
- 7. Communication Common problems: Emigration Loss of cultural roots Virtual communities: Synchronous and asyncronous communication Keeping touch with cultural roots Using the native language
- 8. Education Monolingual children in primary education Secundary education away Illiteracy if not Detachment from roots if they do DDTT. Online learning: Blended or distance learning Teaching language and culture online
- 9. Commercialization Dignification & economic option using cultural and linguistic assets Ethnotourism: crafts, clothes, dances... E-commerce Self-publishing: books, courses, glossaries
- 10. Proyecto Reivindígena 2007: first contacts 2010: 6 weeks revisiting and presenting 2011: 4-5 months implementing it with Toba, Mocoví and Wichí peoples in collaboration with “Centro de Investigación y Formación para la Modalidad Aborigen” (CIFMA)