Microsoft Translator adds Inuinnaqtun and Romanized Inuktitut translation to its growing list of languages
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Microsoft just announced that they are adding new translations to the Microsoft Translator. This move will allow the inclusion of both Inuinnaqtun and Romanized Inuktitut with the goal of enhancing the number of languages it supports.
The Microsoft Translator supports over 100 different languages including the two that have just been included. and the feature cuts across the board as users can access it on Office, Translator for Bing, and Microsoft Translator apps.
Additional support
According to Microsoft, you can now add Inuinnaqtun and Romanized Inuktitut text and document translation to applications, tools, websites, and workflows using Azure Cognitive Services Translator. Moreover, users have the ability to use the feature with Cognitive Services like Speech or Computer Vision. In return, you get additional features such as speech-to-text as well as image translation on your applications.
In January 2021, Microsoft used the traditional syllabic script to add Inuktitut to Microsoft Translator. They have taken quite some time to work on this with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the translation models. The move has further enhanced their cause to break language barriers.
As such, they are able to work with people that come from all walks of life despite their language barrier thanks to Microsoft Translator, preserving endangered languages such as Inuinnaqtun and Romanized Inuktitut. According to the post by Microsoft, there are over 7,000 languages spoken across the world. Unfortunately, a language becomes extinct every two weeks.
Endangered languages on the verge of becoming extinct
Based on predictions made, around 50% to 90% of the endangered languages are said to completely disappear from the phase of the earth in the next century. Nunavut’s government has worked with Microsoft Translator and community groups such as the Kitikmeot Heritage Society to ensure that Inuinnaqtun and Inuktitut are not among the languages that become extinct.
What are your thoughts on Microsoft’s move to try and preserve endangered languages? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
