A stop sign featuring English, French, and Inuktut syllabics is displayed in Iqaluit on April 25, 2015. In a groundbreaking move, Google has made one of Canada's most widely spoken Indigenous languages available on its translation service, marking the first time a First Nations, Métis, or Inuit language has been included on the platform. The Canadian Press
In a significant step toward inclusivity, Google has added Inuktut to its translation service, marking the first time a First Nations, Métis, or Inuit language from Canada has been included on the platform. Inuktut, which encompasses various dialects spoken by Inuit communities in Canada, Greenland, and Alaska, can now translate text, documents, and websites, broadening access to this important Indigenous language.
This addition aligns with Google’s broader initiative to develop a unified artificial intelligence language model that supports 1,000 of the world’s most spoken languages. With approximately 40,000 speakers of Inuktut in Canada, the decision to include the language highlights the growing demand for representation of Indigenous languages in digital spaces.
Isaac Caswell, a senior software engineer at Google, emphasized that merely having speakers is not enough to warrant inclusion in the translation service. The language must also have sufficient online text data to create a functional language model. Many other Indigenous languages in Canada, such as Cree, have been unable to meet this requirement due to limited online presence. “We don't want to put anything on the product which just produces broken text or nonsense,” Caswell noted, explaining the careful selection process involved in adding new languages.
Inuktut was chosen because it has a substantial amount of clean, well-written data available online, largely due to the community's increasing digital presence. This makes it technically feasible for Google to develop an effective translation model. To ensure the model accurately reflects Inuktut, Google consulted with speakers and organizations like Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, which represents around 70,000 Inuit in Canada. Their input was crucial in creating a translation model that respects both writing systems used in Inuktut: qaniujaaqpait (syllabics) and qaliujaaqpait (Roman alphabet).
Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, welcomed Google’s efforts to include Inuktut, highlighting its importance in revitalizing and promoting Inuit languages. “This is another way to make our language relevant and easily accessible, allowing those unfamiliar with it to interact with it,” Obed remarked, emphasizing the role of technology in the reconciliation process.
Caswell pointed out that this initiative aims to help Indigenous communities feel recognized by the tech industry, which has often overlooked them in the past. “I hope, maybe if anything, it will make them feel a little bit more seen by a big tech company,” he said, acknowledging the historical disconnect between technology and Indigenous groups.
With the integration of Inuktut into Google Translate, users can now translate written content between Inuktut and English. There are hopes for additional features, such as verbal translation, to be introduced in the future. While the use of AI to promote Indigenous languages has its challenges, Caswell believes that ongoing technological advancements will enable the unlocking of more languages over time.
Google’s addition of Inuktut to its translation service marks a significant milestone for Indigenous languages in Canada. This initiative not only enhances accessibility to Inuktut but also supports the broader goals of revitalization and recognition of Indigenous cultures within the tech landscape.
