Tech Revitalizes Endangered Languages Digitally

Apple's recent iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 updates have introduced keyboard support for several indigenous languages, including Blackfoot and Cherokee. This technological integration is seen as a significant step toward preserving and revitalizing Native American languages that have a limited number of fluent speakers. The Cherokee language, for instance, is spoken by only about 1,500 individuals globally.

Since 2010, Apple has been incorporating Native American languages into its operating systems, starting with Cherokee. The inclusion of these languages in modern devices is crucial for making them relevant to younger generations. Educators in Oklahoma are utilizing these tools in immersion schools to help students engage more deeply with their heritage languages. Features like pronunciation practice allow students to record and review their speech, ensuring accuracy in a language where every sound is vital.

Cherokee artist Roy Boney Jr. collaborated with Apple engineers to integrate the Cherokee syllabary onto Apple devices. This effort highlights the importance of ensuring language and culture survive and thrive. High school students who have benefited from these immersion programs express concern about the potential loss of language and culture, but also optimism for the future as younger generations become first-language speakers.