CFP: Technology and Indigenous Languages

[Nicholas Ostler]

Call for Papers for Special Issue of Language Learning & Technology

        Theme: Technology and Indigenous Languages

        Guest Editor: Nicholas Ostler

The focus of this special issue of Language Learning & Technology is
on the means, potential value, and dangers, of providing and using
communications and information technology for languages that are
mostly local in use.

*  What are the practical difficulties of providing systems in the
current state of the art?
*  When systems are provided, what has been the main value to the
individuals and communities who can use them?
*  Is there an effect on the way in which languages are used in
smaller communities, and on their prospects for survival?
*  With the advent of speech processing and multimedia, what is the
effect on the acquisition, and use of literacy?
*  Who are the major beneficiaries, both within the language
communities, and outside, in the world of descriptive linguists,
publishers, software producers and other businesses?
*  What are the immediate and longer-term effects, on a language
community's economy, culture and overall health?

        Manuscripts submitted for the special issue should either (a)
report on original research or (b) present an original framework that
links previous research, educational theory, and teaching practices.

        Since the focus is on indigenous languages, English, Japanese,
Chinese, Korean and the major languages originating from Western
Europe should not be the exclusive focus of any papers. However,
multilingual issues which involve these languages with others less
widely spoken might be very relevant. And economic development of a
language, rather than speaker population, is the crucial determinant:
so considerations in providing technology for Punjabi or Javanese
also fall within our sphere of interest. But no less would we
discount the cases of Caucasian or Papuan villages.

Since the publication is Language Learning & Technology, the work
discussed should have a relevance to language learning, but this
would include second as well as foreign language acquisition.

        Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

               character codes: standards and dissemination
               corpus building, annotation and exploitation
               practical lexicography
               roles for speech processing, both recognition and generation
               effective use of video and multimedia
               multilingual transfer
               effects of IT communication on communities in diaspora
               language technology as a means of documentation
               culture clashes, at the level of
		linguist, language learner or ambient community

        Please e-mail an abstract of no more than 500 words, by 31
August 2000, to:
        Nicholas Ostler nostler at chibcha.demon.co.uk

Language Learning & Technology is published exclusively on the World
Wide Web. You may see current or back issues, and take out your free
subscription, at http://llt.msu.edu