AI Technology Aims to Support Manx Gaelic Speakers and Language Revival Efforts
A PhD student from Sheffield University is developing innovative artificial intelligence (AI) technology to assist speakers of Manx Gaelic, the native language of the Isle of Man. Chris Bartley, a computer science researcher, is creating a machine-learning model designed to transcribe spoken Manx into text, with hopes that this technology will ease the workload for native speakers and aid in language preservation.
Addressing Challenges Faced by Manx Speakers
Manx Gaelic, once considered extinct as a native language, has experienced a resurgence, with approximately 2,200 speakers recorded in the 2021 Population Census. Despite ongoing revival efforts, the language remains marginalized partly due to a scarcity of learning resources and technological support, such as text-to-speech and speech recognition tools.
Bartley explained to the BBC that his goal is to "lighten the load" for native speakers by providing a technological tool that can handle tasks such as transcription, which traditionally requires many hours of manual effort. This, he hopes, will free up native speakers to engage in other important activities like teaching the language or developing educational courses.
Potential Educational and Accessibility Benefits
Beyond transcription, the AI tool is also intended to serve as an educational aid by helping learners with pronunciation. The technology’s pronunciation capabilities are based on carefully selected, high-quality Manx language data to ensure accuracy.
Importantly, Bartley highlighted the tool’s potential to increase accessibility for visually impaired individuals. Currently, unless involved in entirely spoken sessions, visually impaired people have limited access to Manx Gaelic. The introduction of text-to-speech features could extend the language’s reach to a broader audience by making written Manx content audible.
Collaboration with Cultural Organizations
Bartley has collaborated with Culture Vannin, an organization dedicated to promoting Manx culture. One of their annual initiatives involves transcription of old Manx recordings by native speakers—a time-intensive process that could be streamlined with AI assistance.
"The technology is not meant to replace people but to enhance the creativity and productivity of the community," Bartley said. He stressed the strong community commitment to revitalizing Manx and creating language resources.
Looking Ahead
Currently learning Manx himself, Bartley hopes to make the speech recognition and text-to-speech technology widely accessible online soon. His work represents a promising step towards integrating modern technology with cultural heritage preservation.
For those interested in Manx language and culture, more updates and stories are available through BBC Isle of Man and their digital platforms.
Read more about Manx language initiatives:
- Teacher backs new way for students to learn Manx
- Manx language added to Google Translate
- Year-long celebration of Manx starting in January
