How can i share my indigenous language?

Our take

Preserving and sharing your indigenous language is a noble endeavor that demands thoughtful consideration, especially when navigating the complexities of cultural heritage. For years, you have collaborated with teachers from your tribe to create a comprehensive database of your language, aiming for accuracy and accessibility. While the existing corpus from SIL Global offers a foundation, its inaccuracies highlight the need for a more reliable resource. You’re contemplating whether to donate your meticulously compiled 40,000-entry database, rich with proverbs, synonyms, and cultural references, to SIL Global or to share it directly on platforms like Reddit and Facebook. However, the latter may risk your work being lost in the digital noise. Instead, envisioning a dedicated space—a mini-library—could cultivate a vibrant community that cherishes and engages with your tribe's rich history and language.

Hello,

For years ive been working with 2 teachers from my tribe in an effort to preserve our tribe's language. There is already a a corpus of my tribe's language available via SIL Global however it is filled with inaccuracies. At the current rate we are going we should be able to finish a database, fully romanized and translated to english and spanish by may next year. However after that, we are not sure what to do.

I have thought of informing SIL Global and donating the corpus comprising of 40000 entries (inclusive of proverbs, synonyms and regional variations, local gods and mythical figures] to them however ive seen some controversy about them being discussed on reddit. Alternatively i had thought of just releasing it on reddit itself and on facebook for anyone who wants to download and read it but i don't think that really preserves the language, it would be just a random post in a huge platform that would probably be forgotten.

I'd like for the document to reach my kin wherever they are and anyone passionate about our history. Im also scanning books, inscriptions and everything i got to archive as many of these are rotting away or are in bad condition. It would be great to see interest in our stories and history and our crafts and i'd like there to be a place, a mini library perhaps of sorts about our people.

submitted by /u/Leishua
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Tagged with

#language evolution#philosophy of language#humor in language#creative language use#indigenous language#tribe#corpus#SIL Global#database#romanized#translated#history#proverbs#synonyms#regional variations#archive#local gods#mythical figures#social media#crafts