Integrating Innu-aimun into automated translation tools like Google Translate would present more risks than benefits, according to the Tshakapesh Institute.
Google announced on October 17 that Inuktut, a language spoken by more than 39,000 speakers in Canada, would now be available on its online translation service.
It is the first Canadian Indigenous language on the platform.
“Of course when we look at it, it seems so beautiful, it could be an advancement for indigenous languages […]but automated translation hides a reality that is not always beautiful,” indicates Jérémie Ambroise, advisor in linguistics of the Innu language at the Tshakapesh Institute.
For Mr. Ambroise, the translations offered by this type of service are not always representative of the realities of the language.
“A problem that has been highlighted with Inuktut is that it is seen as a whole, but there are several dialects and these dialects are completely different from each other,” he emphasizes. “It’s the same thing for the Innu. We have a standardized language in writing, but not orally. »
Mr. Ambroise also mentions the notion of “lexical gap”, which designates the absence of several terms, concepts or realities in the Innu language.
“We think of “artificial intelligence”, precisely,” he gives as an example.
Beyond language
In addition to the issue of language fidelity, Mr. Ambroise indicates that social acceptability and understanding of Innu culture are necessary for such a project to come to fruition in the future.
“Do the Innu want machines to speak their language? », questions Mr. Ambroise. “Often, seniors are not very comfortable [avec de telles questions]. »
The advisor also raises the question of the loss of the language and the effects that an imprecise translation tool could have on its preservation.
“In a community like Uashat, where maybe 10% of those aged 20 and under speak the language […] if these people start going to Google Translate, or another program and they think they have access to a specific tool, we can imagine all the problems that could cause. »
Mr. Ambroise recalls that the Tshakapesh Institute is continuously working on its Innu-aimun dictionary. He also advises language learners to be wary of erroneous educational content, which is rampant on the Internet.
