Keelevahendid

Keelevahendid, translated as language tools, are digital or non-digital resources and tools that assist with language creation, correction, processing and learning. They cover a broad spectrum including dictionaries, spell-checkers, grammar-checkers, style guides, translation memories, terminology databases, text corpora, as well as text-to-speech and speech recognition, machine translation, handwriting recognition, and language-learning software.

They serve multiple domains: education (learning Estonian and other languages), publishing and editing, translation and localization, software development and accessibility (such as screen readers). They aid linguists in research by providing corpora and annotation tools; and they support public administration with standardized terminology and language quality. The tools can be used to improve writing, automate repetitive tasks, analyze language data, and enable digital accessibility.

In Estonia and other countries, keelevahendid are part of keeletehnoloogia, or language technology. Development is supported by universities, research institutes, government programs and private companies, and often includes open-source components and publicly available corpora. Quality and coverage vary by language and domain, and licensing and data privacy considerations can affect use. The term emphasizes both tools and resources that enable processing, analysis and learning of language, and highlights the role of technology in maintaining and developing language in digital environments. In the Estonian context, keelevahendid contribute to language preservation, education, publishing, and digital communication.