Newly unveiled talking dictionaries aim to document, preserve endangered languages (fwd link)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

Newly unveiled talking dictionaries aim to document, preserve endangered
languages

By: The Canadian Press
Posted: 02/17/2012 12:35 PM

VANCOUVER - Linguists at National Geographic are taking the digital route
in their efforts to both document and help preserve endangered languages.

Eight new talking dictionaries were unveiled at the annual meeting of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science in Vancouver on Friday.

The dictionaries contain more than 32,000 word entries in eight endangered
languages. They comprise more than 24,000 audio recordings of native
speakers pronouncing words and sentences, along with photos of cultural
objects.

Among the participants on a panel about the use of digital tools at the
AAAS meeting was Alfred (Bud) Lane, among the last known fluent speakers of
Siletz Dee-ni, a Native American language spoken in Oregon. Lane has
written that the talking dictionary is — and will be — one of the best
resources in the struggle to keep his language alive.

Access full article below:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/books/newly-unveiled-talking-dictionaries-aim-to-document-preserve-endangered-languages-139527703.html
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