Artificial Intelligence Translation Tools and Challenges for Preserving Minority Languages in the Global South

Authors

  • Ali Imron Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa Author
  • Polce Aryanto Bessie Universitas San Pedro Author
  • Konul Ibrahimova Odlar Yurdu University Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70062/gllr.v1i2.247

Keywords:

AI Translation, Global South, Language Preservation, Minority Languages, Neural Machine Translation

Abstract

The preservation of minority languages in the Global South is critically threatened by the dominance of global languages and the lack of linguistic resources. Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly AI-based translation tools like Neural Machine Translation (NMT), offers a promising solution to this challenge. This study explores how AI can contribute to preserving minority languages, focusing on its potential benefits and limitations. The research reviews existing studies on AI translation tools and their application to minority languages, emphasizing the importance of language preservation. The proposed methodology includes evaluating AI translation tools using a corpus of endangered languages, assessing translation accuracy, adaptability to minority languages, and long-term sustainability. The findings show that while AI tools significantly improve translation speed and accessibility, challenges such as limited data, translation errors, and the bias towards dominant languages hinder their effectiveness for minority languages. Despite these issues, AI holds promise for documenting and revitalizing endangered languages. The study recommends expanding datasets for minority languages, developing specialized AI models, and supporting policies that promote language preservation. Future research should focus on improving AI translation accuracy and integrating human expertise to ensure cultural and linguistic relevance in minority language translation efforts.

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Published

2025-06-30