Norilsk Nickel uses IT technologies to preserve the languages of the indigenous peoples of the North

The first strategic session "Information Technologies and Languages of the peoples of Russia" is being held in Moscow. The event is attended by scientists, linguists, specialists in the field of digital technologies and IT developers.

Andrey Grachev, Vice President of Norilsk Nickel for Federal and Regional Programs, spoke at the plenary session "Language and Digit: synergy of the state, society and business". He told how the company helps to preserve traditions and supports the interests of the indigenous peoples of the North.

According to the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, almost 91% of languages in Russia are disappearing or are in danger of extinction. Therefore, one of the important tasks is to preserve the cultural and linguistic heritage.

According to Grachev, Norilsk Nickel actively cooperates with representatives of the small indigenous peoples of the North. Together with the Siberian Federal University, the company helped to restore the almost lost Enets script and grammar and publish the Enets primer.

Books, newspapers and manuals in the languages of the indigenous peoples of Taimyr are published at the expense of Norilsk Nickel. For example, a collection of songs from the war years was published for Victory Day. Also, with the support of the company, five mobile offline translators from Russian into the languages of the indigenous peoples of Taimyr have been developed.

Thanks to these applications, people from all over the world can learn how the languages of the Ents, Nenets, Nganasan, Dolgan and Evenks sound. The developers have left native speakers the opportunity to make additions and corrections to dictionaries.

"We hold folklore festivals, publish books and create groups in which children and their parents learn their native Nganasan and Dolgan languages. Within the framework of the project, kindergartens in ethnic style with national costumes, mock-ups of homes, household items and musical instruments are being opened. Such an environment increases children's interest in learning the culture, traditions and language of their native people," said the Vice President of Norilsk Nickel for federal and regional programs.