Wikitongues, a Wikimedia User Group and non-profit organization dedicated to documenting and revitalizing endangered and under-resourced languages, has announced the selection of 21 language activists to participate in its 2023 Language Accelerator program. The program provides grant funding, training, and mentorship to language activists working to preserve their native languages. It also provides training in language documentation and revitalization techniques, as well as mentorship from experienced linguists and language activists.
The 2023 cohort of language activists come from a variety of backgrounds including the Wikimedia Movement and represents a wide range of languages. The languages being revitalized through the program include:
- Fongbé (Bénin)
- Haíłzaqvļa language (Canada)
- Banjar language (Banjarmasin, Indonesia)
- Igala Language (Nigeria)
- Ghisadi language (Badlapur, India)
- Sarkese (United Kingdom)
- Kihunde language (Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Kaidipang-Bolangitang language (Jakarta, Indonesia)
- Arbëresh (Albania)
- Sekgalagadi language (Gaborone, Botswana)
- Dendi language (Calavi, Bénin)
- Raji language (India)
- Bukharian language (Uzbekistan)
- Chakma language (Bangladesh)
- Nepalbhāsā (Nepal)
- Jewish Neo-Aramaic (Middle East)
- Yupik language (Alaska)
- Choctaw language (Oklahoma)
- Popti’ language (Mexico)
- Rama language (Nicaragua)
- Kalmyk language (Kalmyk-American diaspora)
By providing grant funding, training, and mentorship to language activists, the program is helping to ensure that these languages are not lost to future generations.
About Wikitongues
Wikitongues is a Wikimedia User Group and non-profit organization dedicated to documenting and revitalizing endangered languages. The organization was founded in 2014 by Daniel Bögre Udell and Federico Andrade. Wikitongues has documented over 700 endangered languages from around the world. The organization’s mission is to “champion language diversity and downstream social justice movements by safeguarding endangered languages, increasing global access to critical linguistic resources, and directly supporting language revitalization projects.”
How You Can Help
There are many ways you can help support Wikitongues’ work to document and revitalize endangered languages. You can:
- Volunteer as a translator/interpereter.
- Donate through the organization’s website.
- Volunteer your time to help with short video donations of test wiki editing, Wikidata editing, translation etc.
- Spread the word about Wikitongues and its mission.
Every little bit helps. By working together, we can help ensure that endangered languages are not lost to future generations.
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