Indigenous

New

New keyboard will assist the subsequent era use the language, says Mi’kmaw audio system

Posted: 6 Minutes In the past

Apple customers can now textual content their pals with a keyboard tailor-made for Mi’kmaw dialects and one fluent speaker thinks that will assist the subsequent era of language learners.

The Mi’kmaw language keyboard, which rolled out Friday as a part of Apple software program updates, was a partnership between Apple and Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, a language training authority for 12 communities in Nova Scotia.

“A few of the youngsters on the immersion college will have the ability to correctly talk and correctly use a keyboard that may have the Mi’kmaw method of spelling,” mentioned Patrick Denny from Eskasoni First Nation, 270 kilometres northeast of Halifax.

“That can additional develop their communication expertise that they will have the ability to cross on.”

Denny mentioned he is fortunate to be a fluent speaker and author in his language at age 29.

His group has over 1,000 audio system however he mentioned there’s nonetheless hesitation by some to put in writing within the language.

Denny mentioned folks concern misspelling phrases, however with so many individuals speaking by textual content and social media, having a Mi’kmaw keyboard will assist normalize utilizing the language.

“We’ve all these assets and these instruments which can be obtainable to us in order that we are able to proceed to revitalize and additional the Mi’kmaw language,” mentioned Denny.

Blaire Gould, govt director of Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, mentioned they’ve established a relationship with Apple for plenty of years, and use iPads of their school rooms.

She mentioned it is about mixing conventional data with modern expertise.

“My perception is that language has to evolve and the evolution of languages ensures the survival of languages,” mentioned Gould.

“We’ve to evolve with the occasions and never overlook our our previous methods, however infusing new methods into the work that we’re doing.”

She mentioned Apple approached her a 12 months in the past in regards to the Mi’kmaw keyboard. Apple didn’t reply to a request for remark by time of publishing.

Gould mentioned she had Apple meet with their IT supervisor and their elders advisory board, which is made up of about 15 elders and language keepers from surrounding communities, as a result of she needed to ensure their elders permitted of the way in which the language was offered and to make sure it was correct.

J.R. Isadore, the IT supervisor, is from Membertou First Nation and helped with growing Mi’kmaw language apps like L’nui’suti.

“Apple is absolutely supporting efforts to revitalize First Nation languages and I believe they’re exhibiting it on this method,” mentioned Isadore. 

He mentioned the keyboard consists of phrases from totally different orthographies and dialects like Francis-Smith, Pacifique and Listuguj and options symbols just like the schwa.