IT technologies will help preserve the languages of the indigenous peoples of the North

Five mobile offline translators from Russian into the languages of the indigenous peoples of Taimyr have been created in Russia.

Thanks to these applications, developed with the support of Norilsk Nickel, people from all over the world can learn how the languages of the Ents, Nenets, Nganasan, Dolgan and Evenks sound. This was announced today during the first strategic session "Information Technologies and Languages of the peoples of Russia", which began work in Moscow. The event is attended by scientists, linguists, specialists in the field of digital technologies and IT developers.

According to Andrey Grachev, Vice President of the Norilsk Nickel Company for federal and regional programs, who spoke at the plenary session "Language and Digit: synergy of the state, society and business", the developers left native speakers the opportunity to make additions and corrections to dictionaries. Grachev told how the company helps to preserve traditions and supports the interests of the indigenous peoples of the North and actively cooperates with representatives of the small indigenous peoples of the North.

He recalled that according to the estimates of 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. Therefore, Norilsk Nickel, together with the Siberian Federal University, helped to restore the almost lost Enets script and grammar and publish the Enets primer. The company also publishes books, newspapers and manuals in the languages of the indigenous peoples of Taimyr. For example, a collection of songs from the war years was published for Victory Day.

"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," Grachev added.