EMPOWERING ENDANGERED AFRICAN LANGUAGES

AI-DRIVEN PRESERVATION AND TRANSLATION IN AFRICA

Abstract

It is not an exaggeration to say that the majority of African languages are threatened, unhealthy or at best can be classified as in ‘trouble’ and ‘dying’ and therefore, need linguistic measures and interventions to save them from extinction. One of the major 
features of language is that it must be spoken, used for a variety of purposes, nurtured, maintained, and developed; otherwise, it will cease to exist or die and become extinct. Scholars have predicted that between 50% and 90% of the world’s languages will have become extinct by the end of this century and that the worst-hit languages would most likely come from the African continent. Something urgently needs to be done to preserve and promote African languages. Artificial Intelligence has been widely used in
various fields of human endeavour, such as finance, banking, health, agriculture, energy, and others. However, its application in the humanities is relatively recent. In light of the foregoing, this paper explores the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in preserving
and promoting endangered languages in Africa. Using a qualitative research approach, this study examines the role of AI-driven preservation and translation in maintaining linguistic diversity and promoting cultural heritage. The findings suggest that AI can
enhance language preservation efforts, improve translation accuracy, and facilitate cultural exchange, while also highlighting the importance of human expertise in ensuring cultural relevance and authenticity. The research highlights the benefits and
challenges of AI-powered language preservation and translation, emphasizing the need for collaboration between AI systems and human translators.