Stories about Language
Malaysian students share lessons using digital tools to promote indigenous languages
"Students have the opportunity to explore, reflect and scrutinize the functions and roles of indigenous languages in society and to the indigenous communities."
Chinese soft power in Kyrgyzstan grows through culture and language
Still looking to publicize its language and culture in Central Asia, China is using the instrument of Confucius Institutes to strengthen its soft power in Kyrgyzstan
The origins of ‘liming’ in Trinidad and Tobago
"A most interesting ‘thread’ bringing out all kinds of intriguing prejudices (positive and negative) and biases."
Is a revival of Tatar selfhood possible despite Russia's identity politics?
Can the political limitations on the use and teaching of native languages in Russia propel the revival of Tatar national identity?
Blogger gets prison sentence for branding Kazakhstan's language policies “russophobic”
According to Taichimbekov, the Kazakh state has been "sourcing Russian individuals who speak out in favor of banning Russian television, banning Russian language, excluding it from the Constitution."
France's regional languages, patois, dialects: what was that again?
In that sense, the so-called "regional" languages area also minority languages in terms of their number of speakers, and even 'minoritised' by the fact of their historical marginalisation.
The decline of Occitan: A failure of cultural initiatives, or abandonment by the state?
A setback for Occitan, spoken by more than half a million people in France, due to failed cultural initiatives or to the policy of the French State?
From Mexico to Australia, Indigenous youth reimagine the internet for their languages
The internet plays a role in imposing hegemonic language, but young people are using it to carve space for their languages.
The French government’s U-turn on regional languages
A new law passed in May 2021 has reignited the debate around France's regional languages
These African animators are saving their native languages using cartoons
Animation is an effective way of teaching young Africans life skills and languages that are often not taught in schools, as most African governments adopt official languages while discouraging native ones.
WATCH: Indigenous+Digital: How young people are revitalizing their native languages on the internet
Missed the live stream of the July 13 Global Voices Insights webinar about the role of young people in Indigenous language revitalization? Here's a replay.
Tintin in Bangladesh…. only in the artist's imagination!
A Bangladeshi cartoonist is drawing nostalgic memories of the European comic book "The Adventures of Tintin" through his fan art "Tintin in Bangladesh" — with a local twist.
LIVE on July 13: Indigenous+Digital: How young people are revitalizing their native languages on the internet
The involvement of young people is a key factor in keeping Indigenous languages alive. Join us for a conversation with language activists from Australia and Mexico to find out more!
Amid Eid ul-Fitr celebrations, a look at the Muslim presence in the Caribbean
New generations of Caribbean Muslims are being born and raised in the diaspora, creating a type of religious hybrid that sometimes puts traditional approaches under strain.
Alternative Indian movies: Is Netflix at last embracing cultural diversity?
Netflix, which has become the entertainment go-to for millions during the pandemic's prolonged lockdowns, is exploring new Indian productions that stray away from the typical plotlines and visuals.
An activist's effort to put his native language Dagbani on the digital map
"The representation of multiple languages online is one way to ensure that all the different ways of seeing the world by different people are captured and well-preserved."
Inspiring new generations of Balinese language speakers through superheroes and wikis
"Unequal access to digitalization is our biggest problem. Internet users continue to grow, but in reality not all areas in Bali have adequate internet access."
Digital discourse: How going online is keeping Kadazan and other indigenous languages alive in Borneo
"The indigenous languages don’t have to stay in dusty cabinets. We can use technology to have our languages and cultures available online."
Should there be Shona-language versions of Google and social media sites? This Zimbawean technologist says yes
"Native speakers should be at the forefront of researching and producing these tools as they better understand their own language."
For stateless and scattered Tibetans, a new online tool helps voters make an informed choice
The reliable online platform, created by a group of Swiss Tibetans, allows candidates and voters to communicate effectively, and although it overcame some challenges, others are work in progress.
