In less than 100 words, what is your idea?:
A Google Maps interface or similar application which takes data on where different languages are spoken around the world and visualises this on layers of a map interface. An extension of the idea is that the site also provides 10 or so key phrases with audio in the language you are looking at. For example, if you click the Italian layer, both Italy and Italian communities around the world (New York, Melbourne etc) would be highlighted so the spread of this community could be measured. People could then listen to audio bytes sounding out key phrases like Hello, Goodbye, Yes, No, Thankyou etc.
What is the social need or challenge your idea could address?:
This idea aims to strengthen ties to language and culture, as well as creating an awareness of the number of languages and their spread around the world. Has particular application in visually capturing the endangered dialects of the world and improving/promoting multi-lingualism. Language is an important part of any culture and identity, but has certainly been sacrificed by the proliferation of just one or two languages around the world. Non-English speaking countries are almost forced by default to be conversant in English, and cater to English-speaking people in their country (through signage, menus etc all visible in English). While this may be a necessary development in a global world, it shouldn't be at the expense of language or culture. I also think that this project has huge application in Australia alone by fostering a greater national understanding of the vast numbers of indigenous dialects and which communities speak which languages throughout Australia.
What’s really new about your idea?:
There are many ways to learn second languages, but popular (Romantic - Spanish, French, Italian or Business - Chinese, Japanese) languages will always prevail. This project aims to bring lesser-known languages into the spotlight through an educative but simple application. It also taps into the larger research projects on living and endangered languages and has future possibilities to track historical data about the spread of languages.
Comments
Re: Do you speak my language?
I think any application that allowed you to track Indigenous languages in Australia to demonstrate in real time threats to certain communities & languages would be great. There is so much potential to embed other kinds of cultural info / resources into the site using the focus on languages. Sounds great.