In episode 71, we get to learn from Aliana Parker, the Language Programs Manager at the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) in British Columbia, Canada. All over the world, indigenous languages are facing existential threats. In Canada, Aliana and the FPCC are working towards the preservation and revitalization of their province’s linguistic heritage through innovative programs and community resources.
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Show Notes
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Aliana Parker is the Language Programs Manager at the First Peoples’ Cultural Council. She works closely with First Nations community partners throughout British Columbia to coordinate Indigenous language grant programs. Aliana is a grateful settler in Coast Salish territory.
The FPCC 2018 Fact Sheet
You can reach out to the FPCC…
…on Facebook
…on Twitter
…on YouTube
…on Flickr
…or on their website
If you speak Spanish, you can hear Aliana speak more about the indigenous language programs here.
I was just talking to a English teacher friend about Google Translate and less widely spoken and indigenous languages. One aspect of Google Translate, that is really interesting is the preservation of less widely spoken through Google Translate communities. Google Translate has done drives to encourage native and fluent speakers to record their language as a way to preserve it for future generations. If you look at the languages Google Translate now includes, some of which have very small populations of speakers, like Frisian, Corsican, and Scots Gaelic. Our own region in the north-east of England, has Northumbrian dialect and Geordie speech. Records of the original Northumbrian language, dating back to about AD 700, exist to this day in writings of the monk Saint Bede the Venerable and also the Lindisfarne Gospels. Would be great to see more languages added to Google Translate, which thanks to technology can bring together speakers from all of the world.
Hi! Thanks for sharing! Really interesting usefulness of this tool.
I know I’ve already mentioned this to you, Claire, but anyone else interested in preserving languages (with a UK focus at that) should listen to episodes 77 and 78 of the Allusionist podcast. So good! https://www.theallusionist.org