How do you preserve a language that is slowly fading away?
If you are Don Thornton you turn to video game technology. GameCulture reports that Thornton, whose grandfather is one of only a few living masters of the Cherokee language, created RezWorld to help bring tribal youth closer to their roots. From GC:
Blending The Sims, GTA and traditional games, RezWorld is a 3D-rendered PC affair that uses voice-recognition technology to let gamers communicate with in game characters. Although the demo is in Cherokee, the game can be customized to work with any language. Locations can be tuned to match real-world tribal structures and characters can be modified to look like actual tribal members...
Thorton... told Indian Country Today that making RezWorld required balancing cultural relevance on two fronts — the traditional and the contemporary... "One of the main reasons we've made RezWorld is because we see the connection between the survival of tribal languages and the protection of tribal sovreignity."
Rezworld is still in development and Thornton is actively seeking tribal partners in order to complete the game.
Comments
Re: GTA-like 3-D World Helps Preserve Native American Languages
I like this idea, but I'm not sure how effective it will be. Natural language processing is a really, really tough nut to crack, and I think that's going to be a key element for sustaining a project of this nature in the long run.
I wish them well, but I hope they realize what they're getting into.
Re: GTA-like 3-D World Helps Preserve Native American Languages
It sounds like a good idea to help preserve their culture and heritage. However, I would add that their language would be doing a whole lot better if you didn't have to get permission from the tribal council in order to be able to teach it. Meaning the number of people who can teach it is pathetically low.
I'm pretty sure that was cherokee anyway..
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Re: GTA-like 3-D World Helps Preserve Native American Languages
Innovative uses for modern technologies are always great. This seems like a very interesting and unique way, not only to teach a language that has become in danger of fading out, but also to preserve and promote a culture that is also in danger of being marginalized. I can see this becoming a popular, "Second Life" style thing, where one can be immersed in a particular culture that may be hard to find around yourself in real life. Kudos to Thornton and anyone who helps to support this project.
P.S.: HalfShadow, let's keep this civil and on-topic please.
Re: GTA-like 3-D World Helps Preserve Native American Languages
I think it's a good idea myself. I'd like to see more foreign languages taught this way. It's interactive and you learn while having fun without having to sit in a classroom. Seems like a great teaching tool.
Re: GTA-like 3-D World Helps Preserve Native American Languages
I hope there will be a japanese version.
Re: GTA-like 3-D World Helps Preserve Native American Languages
This seems like a great idea.
A teachign tool is worthless unless it can keep the interest of the subject. On that end, games are a great way to learn.
Re: GTA-like 3-D World Helps Preserve Native American Languages
That's a pretty good idea.
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Okay.
-Remember kids, personal responsibility is for losers! For information on games and psychology, look up: Jonathan Freedman(2002)Block & Crain(2007) Just to name a few...
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Wow, that was a great comment. After reading the entire thing, I walked away as a more knowledgeable person. XD
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