List of Endangered Languages with Mobile Apps and Regional Initiatives

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Did you know that there are over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, but many are at risk of disappearing? The Ainu language, spoken by the Ainu people of Japan, is one such language.

The Ainu language has a unique writing system and is considered an important part of Ainu culture. Unfortunately, it's now considered an endangered language with only a few fluent speakers remaining.

Mobile apps like the Ainu Dictionary and Ainu Language Learning have been developed to help preserve the language and culture. These apps offer language lessons and vocabulary building exercises.

The Ainu community in Japan has also launched regional initiatives to promote the language and culture, such as language classes and cultural events.

Language Learning Apps

You can learn Hawaiian, Cornish, and Navajo on the Duolingo app, which made these courses available in October 2018. Today, there are 586,000 Hawaiian learners, 293,000 Navajo learners, and 586,000 Duolingo users have chosen Cornish as their language of choice.

Credit: youtube.com, Smartphone apps used to save endangered Indigenous languages

Memrise also offers courses for Hawaiian, Cornish, and Navajo, in addition to other endangered languages.

Duolingo has been an avid supporter of preserving endangered languages, promoting them on its platform, and launching courses in Hawaiian and Navajo on Indigenous People's Day last year.

Cudoo and Memrise also offer Navajo language courses online.

You can also learn Cornish on the Memrise app or get a good introduction to the language via the website Say Something in Cornish.

Rosetta Stone has developed the Navajo Rosetta Stone app available for purchase, which is a good option for those who want a more comprehensive learning experience.

Master Any Language is a website and app that offers a huge range of languages, including Cree, Greenlandic, Inuktitut, Inupiaq, Navajo, and Ojibwe.

Here's a list of some language learning apps that offer endangered languages:

  • Duolingo: Hawaiian, Cornish, Navajo, and more
  • Memrise: Hawaiian, Cornish, Navajo, and more
  • Cudoo: Navajo
  • Rosetta Stone: Navajo (available for purchase)
  • Master Any Language: Cree, Greenlandic, Inuktitut, Inupiaq, Navajo, Ojibwe, and more

Language Learning Platforms

Duolingo is a popular app that offers free language courses, including Hawaiian, which has been a hit with 586,000 users as of March 2022.

Credit: youtube.com, Introducing the Endangered Languages Project

Memrise is another great resource for language learners, with courses available for Cornish, Greenlandic, and Navajo, among others. You can also learn Navajo on Duolingo for free.

The Memrise app has a wide range of courses, including ones for Cree, Inuktitut, Inupiaq, and Ojibwe.

The Language Conservancy has developed a selection of apps for indigenous North American languages, including Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, and Cheyenne.

Google has also launched an app to preserve and teach endangered languages, including Maori, Creole, and Yiddish, although some argue that Yiddish is not truly endangered.

Here are some popular language learning platforms for endangered languages:

Language Preservation Organizations

The Language Conservancy has a vast collection of apps for indigenous North American languages, including Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Cheyenne, Yanktonai, Keres, Nakoda, Crow, Omaha, and Maskoke.

The First Peoples' Heritage Language and Culture Council has developed apps for languages such as Xeni Gwet'in, Secwépemc, Hlgaagilda Xaayda Kil, and more. I was surprised to learn about these languages while researching this post.

Credit: youtube.com, Saving Languages From Extinction

The Lakota Language Consortium offers a helpful selection of apps for Lakota, including a media player, vocabulary app, dictionary, and keyboard.

The Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages has developed a range of apps for indigenous Australian languages, including Tyalingi, Wadawurrung, Wemba Wemba, Taungurung, and more.

Google has launched an app to preserve and teach endangered languages, including Maori, Creole, Yiddish, Yugambeh, and others. However, some argue that the number of endangered languages is inflated, citing Yiddish as an example.

The Gabriel Dumont Institute has created an app for Michif, a unique language that is part Cree and French.

Regional Language Initiatives

The Language Conservancy offers a large selection of apps for indigenous North American languages, including Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Cheyenne, Yanktonai, Keres, Nakoda, Crow, Omaha, and Maskoke.

Google has also launched a new app to preserve and teach indigenous languages, including Maori, Creole, Yiddish, Yugambeh, and others. This app uses open source technology and allows learning through photographing objects and translating them in real time.

Credit: youtube.com, Tuvan Language - Talking Dictionary iPhone App - Demo Video

There are over 2,000 languages that are considered endangered, according to Google. However, this number is highly disputed, with the UK newspaper Guardian claiming that there are only slightly over 150 endangered languages in existence.

Yiddish is one of the languages listed as endangered, but it's not entirely accurate. While the use of Yiddish has declined sharply, there are still hundreds of thousands of people who speak it as their first language, and the birthrate in Hasidic families is much higher than average.

Digital Language Preservation

Digital language preservation is a rapidly growing field, and technology is playing a crucial role in it.

Duolingo, a popular language learning app, has been a game-changer for those wanting to learn endangered languages like Hawaiian, which now has 586,000 users on the platform.

The Duolingo app offers free language courses, making it an accessible option for those interested in learning these languages.

Master Any Language is another website and app that offers a vast range of languages, including Cree, Inuktitut, and Navajo.

Credit: youtube.com, AI and Language Revival Preserving Endangered Languages

This app is a valuable resource for those looking to learn indigenous languages, with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate.

The Language Conservancy has a large selection of apps for indigenous North American languages, including Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara.

These apps are a great way to learn and preserve these languages, which are at risk of disappearing.

Miromaa Aboriginal Language and Technology Centre has developed apps for Pomoan languages and other languages, including Cree and Mohawk.

Their apps are available on both Apple and Android devices, making it easy to learn on-the-go.

First Peoples' Heritage Language and Culture Council has developed apps for languages like Xeni Gwet'in and Secwépemc, which are vital for preserving the cultural heritage of indigenous communities.

These apps are a testament to the innovative ways technology is being used to preserve endangered languages.

Lakota Language Consortium has developed a range of apps for the Lakota language, including a media player, vocabulary, dictionary, and keyboard.

These apps are a valuable resource for those looking to learn and preserve the Lakota language.

Additional reading: Mobile Technology

Credit: youtube.com, How AI is Helping Restore and Preserve Endangered Languages

According to UNESCO, at least 43% of the world's languages are at risk of extinction, highlighting the urgent need for digital language preservation.

Google has developed an app to preserve and teach indigenous languages, including Maori, Creole, and Yiddish.

However, some argue that the number of endangered languages is being inflated, with only around 150 languages actually at risk.

Social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube are also being used to preserve endangered languages, with indigenous communities using them to connect with each other and share their language and culture.

Duolingo has launched courses in Hawaiian and Navajo, two languages that are on the cusp of extinction.

Oxford University Press has also launched an initiative to promote "digitally underrepresented" languages, creating digital dictionaries to help preserve them.

The Rosetta Project is another initiative aimed at preserving indigenous languages, with a primary objective of ensuring their preservation long after their speakers have died.

Language Preservation in Australia

Credit: youtube.com, Miriwoong: The Australian language barely anybody speaks - BBC News

Language preservation is a vital aspect of Australian culture, and mobile apps are playing a significant role in it.

The Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages has developed a range of apps for indigenous Australian languages, including Tyalingi, Wadawurrung, and Wemba Wemba.

There's also a great selection of apps available for languages like Pertame, Kune, and Kayardilt, among others. These apps are a great resource for language learners and community members looking to preserve their cultural heritage.

The apps developed by the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages are a testament to the importance of language preservation in Australia.

Australasia

In Australasia, there are some amazing apps being developed to preserve indigenous and endangered languages from Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific Islands.

The Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages has created a range of apps for indigenous Australian languages, including Tyalingi, Wadawurrung, Wemba Wemba, Taungurung, and more.

You can also check out NTLanguages, which offers apps for Anindilyakwa, Eastside Kriol, Ritharrngu, Tiwi, and Wubuy, all available on both Apple and Android devices.

Victorian Aboriginal Corporation

Group of dancers in traditional Aboriginal attire performing outdoors.
Credit: pexels.com, Group of dancers in traditional Aboriginal attire performing outdoors.

The Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages is doing some amazing work in preserving indigenous Australian languages. They've developed a range of apps for languages like Tyalingi, Wadawurrung, and Wemba Wemba.

Their apps are a great resource for anyone interested in learning these languages, and they're available on both Apple and Android devices. The Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages is also working to preserve languages that are no longer spoken, by using them to identify birds and other wildlife.

One of the standout features of their apps is the use of aboriginal bird names and knowledge, which is a great way to connect with the natural world and learn about the cultures of indigenous Australia. The corporation's work is an important contribution to language preservation in Australia.

Language Learning Apps for Specific Languages

If you're interested in learning an endangered language, there are many mobile apps available to help you get started. Hawaiian is one such language that can be learned for free on the Duolingo app, with over 586,000 users choosing it as their language of choice.

Credit: youtube.com, Endangered languages

Duolingo also offers a Navajo course, which is available for free and has attracted 293,000 learners. Another app that offers Navajo courses is Cudoo, making it a great option for those looking to learn this indigenous language.

For those interested in learning Cornish, a pre-Roman Celtic language, Memrise is a great resource. You can take one of the many courses available on the app or get a good introduction to the language via the website Say Something in Cornish.

In addition to these apps, there are many others that cater to specific languages. For example, the Memrise app offers courses in Cree, while the Master Any Language app has a huge range of languages, including Cree, Greenlandic, and Inuktitut.

Here's a list of some of the languages and apps mentioned in this article:

  • Hawaiian: Duolingo, Memrise
  • Navajo: Duolingo, Cudoo, Memrise
  • Cornish: Memrise, Say Something in Cornish
  • Cree: Memrise, Master Any Language
  • Greenlandic: Memrise, Utalk, Master Any Language
  • Inuktitut: Pinnguaq, Master Any Language

These apps are a great way to learn endangered languages and help preserve cultural identity. Whether you're interested in learning a language for personal or professional reasons, there's an app out there for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there 7000 endangered languages?

According to UNESCO, approximately 40% of the estimated 7,000 languages spoken worldwide are considered endangered, with a language disappearing every two weeks. This alarming rate highlights the urgent need to conserve and promote linguistic diversity.

Ann Predovic

Lead Writer

Ann Predovic is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for research, she has established herself as a go-to expert in various fields, including technology and software. Her writing career has taken her down a path of exploring complex topics, making them accessible to a broad audience.

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