Inuktitut: A Milestone in Indigenous Language Preservation and Revitalization via Technology

Project Overview

The Power of Indigenous Languages

Inuktitut, an official language of Nunavut and a cornerstone of Inuit identity, is now at the forefront of technological innovation. This project demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of Indigenous languages in the digital age. By integrating Inuktitut into modern technology, we affirm its relevance and vitality in contemporary Canadian society.

Collaboration with Inuit Communities

Central to this project is the partnership between the Government of Nunavut and Microsoft. This collaboration exemplifies the importance of Indigenous leadership in technological advancements. The Government of Nunavut, representing Inuit interests, has been instrumental in guiding this project to ensure it authentically serves the Inuit community.

Inuktitut by the Numbers

Inuktitut is the language of many Inuit communities – foundational to their way of life. Approximately 24,000 Inuit speak Inuktitut, with 80% using it as their primary language. The 2016 Canadian census reported around 37,570 individuals identifying Inuktitut as their mother tongue, highlighting its significance in Canada's linguistic landscape.

New Features Honoring Inuktitut

We're excited to introduce two neural voices, "SiqiniqNeural" and "TaqqiqNeural," supporting both Roman and Syllabic orthography. These voices, developed with careful consideration of Inuktitut's unique sounds and rhythms, are now available across various Microsoft applications (Microsoft Translator app, Bing Translator, ClipChamp, Edge Read Aloud and more to come), you also can integrate these voices into your own application through Azure AI Speech services.

You can listen to these voices in samples below:

Preserving Language Through Technology

The Government of Nunavut has generously shared an invaluable collection of linguistic data, forming the foundation of our text-to-speech models. This rich repository includes 11,300 audio files from multiple speakers, totaling approximately 13 hours of content. These recordings capture a diverse range of Inuktitut expression, from the Bible to traditional stories, and even some contemporary novels written by Inuktitut speakers.

Looking Forward

This project is more than a technological advancement; it's a step towards digital Reconciliation. By ensuring Inuktitut's presence in the digital realm, we're supporting the language's vitality and accessibility for future generations of Inuit.

Global Indigenous Language Revitalization

The groundbreaking work with Inuktitut has paved the way for a broader, global initiative to support Indigenous languages worldwide. This expansion reflects Microsoft's commitment to Reconciliation and puts us on the path   as a leader in combining traditional knowledge with cutting-edge technology.

While efforts began here in Canada with Inuktitut, Microsoft recognizes the global need for Indigenous language revitalization. We're now working with more Indigenous communities across the world, from Māori in New Zealand to Cherokee in North America, always guided by the principle of Indigenous-led collaboration that was fundamental to the success of the Inuktitut project.

Our aim is to co-create AI tools that not only translate languages but truly capture the essence of each Indigenous culture. This means working closely with elders, language keepers, and community leaders to ensure our technology respects and accurately reflects the unique linguistic features, cultural contexts, and traditional knowledge systems of each language.

These AI tools are designed to empower Indigenous communities in their own language revitalization efforts. From interactive language learning apps to advanced text-to-speech systems, we're providing technological support that complements grassroots language programs and traditional teaching methods.

Conclusion

We are particularly proud to celebrate this milestone in Indigenous language revitalization in partnership with the Government of Nunavut. This project stands as a testament to what can be achieved when Indigenous knowledge and modern technology come together in a spirit of true partnership and respect, fostering the continued growth and use of Indigenous languages.

Find more information about the project in video below:

Press release from Government of Nunavut: Language Preservation and Promotion Through Technology: MS Translator Project | Government of Nunavut

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In our ongoing quest to enhance multilingual capabilities in text-to-speech (TTS) technology, our goal is bringing the best voices to our product, our voices are designed to be incredibly adaptive, seamlessly switching languages based on the text input. They deliver natural-sounding speech with precise pronunciation and prosody, making them invaluable for applications such as language learning, travel guidance, and international business communication.

Microsoft offers over 500 neural voices covering more than 140 languages and locales. These TTS voices can quickly add read-aloud functionality for a more accessible app design or give a voice to chatbots, providing a richer conversational experience for users. Additionally, with the Custom Neural Voice capability, businesses can easily create a unique brand voice.

With these advancements, we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in TTS technology, ensuring that our users have access to the most versatile and high-quality voices available.

For more information

• Try our demo to listen to existing neural voices
• Add Text-to-Speech to your apps today
• Apply for access to Custom Neural Voice
• Join Discord to collaborate and share feedback