DialectsUnami

DialectsUnami is a community-driven project focused on the documentation and preservation of linguistic diversity, specifically concerning regional and social dialects. The project aims to create a comprehensive online repository of dialectal features, including pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammatical structures, from various regions. It operates on a collaborative model, encouraging linguists, dialect enthusiasts, and native speakers to contribute their knowledge and recordings.

The primary goal of DialectsUnami is to combat language attrition and ensure that the richness of human language variation is accessible to future generations. The platform provides tools for users to upload audio samples, transcribe them, and annotate specific dialectal characteristics. This crowdsourced approach allows for a broad and detailed coverage of linguistic landscapes that might otherwise be underrepresented in traditional linguistic research.

Beyond mere documentation, DialectsUnami also serves as an educational resource. It offers introductory materials on dialectology and sociolinguistics, helping users understand the factors that contribute to dialect formation and evolution. The project seeks to foster a greater appreciation for linguistic diversity and challenge misconceptions about dialects being inferior forms of a language. By making dialectal data publicly available, DialectsUnami hopes to support ongoing research and promote a more inclusive understanding of language.