Languagekeepers

Languagekeepers are individuals, communities, and organizations dedicated to protecting and revitalizing endangered languages. They document languages at risk of loss and support transmission to new generations, often through partnerships with language communities and educators.

Typical activities include fieldwork to collect lexicons, narratives, and grammars; compiling dictionaries and grammars; developing practical orthographies; producing teaching materials; recording oral literature; and building digital archives that preserve audio, video, and metadata. Languagekeepers may also establish language nests, train community teachers, and support school or community-based programs.

Organizations that act as languagekeepers range from grassroots language groups to universities, archives, and cultural heritage institutes. They emphasize community consent, data ownership by the language community, and benefit-sharing. Ethical practice covers recording protocols, storage, access, and the respectful handling of cultural knowledge, as well as ongoing collaboration with speakers and elders.

Impact and challenges: The work has supported intergenerational language transmission, the creation of writing systems, dictionaries, and classroom materials, and the revival of traditional storytelling and ceremonial language. Challenges include limited funding, political or logistical barriers, and the need for durable, sustainable digital stewardship. Success depends on local leadership, clear governance, and long-term partnerships with communities.