Endangered Languages Project

Endangered Languages Project is a collaborative effort between Google, First Peoples' Cultural Council, and Institute for Language Information and Technology to preserve and promote indigenous languages such as Hawaiian language, Maori language, and Inuktitut. The project aims to support language documentation and language preservation efforts, similar to those undertaken by National Geographic Society, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and Linguistic Society of America. This initiative is crucial, as language extinction is a significant concern, with languages like Ainu language, Yuchi language, and Kaixana language being at risk. The project's goals are aligned with those of Endangered Languages Fund, Foundation for Endangered Languages, and International Council on Monuments and Sites.

Introduction

The Endangered Languages Project was launched in 2012, with the primary objective of creating a comprehensive online platform for language documentation and language preservation. This initiative is supported by organizations such as Microsoft, Apple Inc., and IBM, which have also contributed to language technology development. The project's introduction is also linked to the work of linguists like Noam Chomsky, William Labov, and Joshua Fishman, who have studied language contact, language change, and language policy. Furthermore, the project's goals are in line with those of UNESCO Intangible Heritage, International Organization for Standardization, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Background

The Endangered Languages Project is rooted in the understanding that language diversity is essential for cultural diversity, as highlighted by United Nations, European Union, and African Union. The project's background is also connected to the work of anthropologists like Claude Lévi-Strauss, Bronisław Malinowski, and Margaret Mead, who have studied cultural anthropology and linguistic anthropology. Additionally, the project is informed by the research of sociolinguists like Basil Bernstein, Pierre Bourdieu, and Judith Butler, who have examined language and power, language and identity, and language and social change. Organizations like American Anthropological Association, Linguistic Society of America, and International Sociological Association have also contributed to the project's background.

Objectives

The Endangered Languages Project has several objectives, including the creation of a comprehensive online archive of endangered languages, similar to those developed by Internet Archive, Library of Congress, and British Library. The project also aims to support language documentation efforts, such as those undertaken by Summer Institute of Linguistics, Linguistic Data Consortium, and Open Language Archives Community. Furthermore, the project seeks to promote language preservation and language revitalization initiatives, like those implemented by First Nations Development Institute, National Congress of American Indians, and Indigenous Peoples' Biocultural Climate Change Assessment. The project's objectives are also aligned with those of UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, International Literacy Association, and World Bank.

Methodology

The Endangered Languages Project employs a collaborative approach, working with linguists, anthropologists, and community members to document and preserve endangered languages. The project's methodology is informed by the work of researchers like Dell Hymes, John Gumperz, and Charles Fillmore, who have developed ethnographic methods and discourse analysis techniques. The project also utilizes language technology developed by companies like Google, Microsoft, and IBM, as well as open-source software like Linux and Apache. Additionally, the project's methodology is connected to the work of organizations like Wikimedia Foundation, Open Knowledge Foundation, and Creative Commons.

Impact

The Endangered Languages Project has had a significant impact on language preservation and language revitalization efforts, with support from organizations like National Endowment for the Humanities, National Science Foundation, and Social Science Research Council. The project's impact is also evident in the work of language activists like Luisa Maffi, David Crystal, and Mark Turin, who have advocated for language rights and language preservation. Furthermore, the project's impact is connected to the research of scholars like Joshua Fishman, Ofelia García, and Nelson Flores, who have studied language policy, language planning, and language education. The project's impact is also recognized by institutions like Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Oxford.

Languages Supported

The Endangered Languages Project supports a wide range of endangered languages, including Ainu language, Yuchi language, and Kaixana language. The project also provides resources and support for language documentation and language preservation efforts in languages like Hawaiian language, Maori language, and Inuktitut. Additionally, the project collaborates with organizations like First Peoples' Cultural Council, Institute for Language Information and Technology, and Endangered Languages Fund to support language preservation and language revitalization initiatives. The project's language support is also connected to the work of institutions like University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Auckland, and Trent University. Category:Language preservation