AI Set to Give Voice to Endangered Tribal Languages

Aadi Vaani functions as a groundbreaking program that operates to protect vulnerable native languages as well as enhance digital accessibility features. Through this platform, end-users can translate between English, Hindi, and tribal languages to overcome language barriers. Digital educational content becomes accessible to all through the text-to-speech service which provides audio delivery. The development time of six months represents fast-paced technological progress as top institutions provided their backing.

Context

• Aadi Vaani represents an AI-based translation application recently developed by the Indian government to safeguard diminishing tribal tongues besides boosting educational content delivery in native languages.

Key Features of Aadi Vaani

• Bridging the Linguistic Gap:

  • The application facilitates language translation between English as well as Hindi and tribal languages.

  • The platform integrates two languages for translation and distributes educational information about sickle cell anemia among other things.

Target Languages (Phase 1)

• Bhili

• Mundari

• Santhali

• Gondi

• Plans to extend support to more tribal languages gradually

• Alignment with National Policies:

  • Aadi Vaani operates in harmony with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by enabling education through the native tongue of students.

  • Students from tribal communities together with their educators can provide NCERT textbook material to receive adaptations into languages of their tribal heritage.

• Text-to-Speech Feature:

  • The application performs text-to-voice conversion between English and Hindi documents that results in audio translations for tribal languages.

  • The application launched in Santhali is set to receive additional language support in upcoming updates.

• Technological and Institutional Support: The application comes from student developers at prestigious academic institutions.

  • IIT Delhi

  • IIIT Hyderabad

  • IIIT Naya Raipur

  • BITS Pilani

  • The Tribal Research Institutes serve as the experts who provide language expertise for the project.

• Rapid Development:

  • This app took six months to develop while it typically requires Google and other established entities five to six years to accomplish the same level of advancement.

Government & Administrative Support

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs functions as the leading body in charge of the project.

• They support tribal education and linguistic diversity according to Articles 29 and 350A of the Constitution.

• They are in tune with NEP 2020 and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education).

• This advanced technology works on an AI-based model, of digital inclusion in tribal areas.

• It helps in the revival of endangered or nearly extinct languages (as science denotes).

• It enables access to education in tribal areas.

Conclusion

The app is a milestone development in language inclusion and education. Through AI, Aadi Vaani empowers tribal communities and preserves cultural heritage. It is envisaged that with a greater government push and AI-led improvements, the app will be supported in the preservation of tribal languages as well as in India's drive for digital inclusion.