Script - A tool for language preservation

Recently, I came across an interesting article about the Cia-Cia language of Indonesia. The language is spoken by approximately 80,000 inhabitants who reside on the island of Sulawesi. However, there was a problem. Cia-Cia had no written script, and therefore, learning and preserving the language was difficult, leading to a gradual loss of the language. When members of the community tried using Arabic or Latin scripts as used by many other Indonesian languages, they found that the language couldn’t be adequately conveyed. This is because Cia-Cia is a syllable-based language, meaning there isn’t any differentiation in stresses - all sounds are pronounced in the same amount of time. In the end, speakers found that Hangul, the Korean alphabet, was a surprisingly good match for Cia-Cia. Soon, even government signs in the region began using Hangul to convey the local language.

Languages are slowly dying out. In my previous post, I explored how the Internet is driving people towards major languages, making them lose their native tongues as they aren’t able to use them in their daily lives. This problem only becomes exacerbated when there is no written script for the language, as the only way to use and pass the language down is orally. However, inspired by the use of Hangul, I wonder if, with advancements in AI, we will be able to identify more potential script options for languages without a script. This could allow these languages to be written so they can be used in everyday life in modern society, thus ensuring they can survive and thrive.