Language Technologies for Digital Language Diversity

According to the research carried out by the META-NET European Excellence Network, 30 European languages are at risk of digital extinction. Such a risk occurs when usability of a language over digital tools and devices is seriously compromised, essentially because of a total or partial lack of sufficient language technologies. Insufficient support can rapidly put a language in a condition where the contexts of digital use are eroded, or are never accessible. Examples of digital use range from sheer availability of contents over the web, to the possibility to access contents written in a different language, thanks to machine translation applications; the availability of voice interfaces, ebooks, edu-tainment applications, etc. Shrinking contexts of uses can have a devastating effect, eventually leading to the abandonment of a language in favor of another, better supported one. Should this happen, the consequences for a language profile would be dramatic: any language that cannot be used over digital contexts will engage in a "digital diglossia" relationship with another, better supported language. In order to act and put preventive measures into place, it is of utmost importance to have an instrument that allows to evaluate the degree of digital vitality of a language, namely its functional capacity in the new contexts of use and the new media. In this paper we intend to make a reflection over the importance of language diversity in general and in the particular context of digital applications, by showing the breadth and depth of research and technology needed to support the actual usability of languages over digital devices. A preliminary agenda for fostering digital language vitality is then presented, together with preventive measures needed in order to ensure a safe level of digital language diversity.