Unicode in Indigenous Language Revitalization: Lessons from the Taíno Community
Unicode is often viewed as a technical standard, but for Indigenous communities revitalizing endangered or previously dormant languages, digital inclusion requires much more than encoding characters. Drawing from the experience of revitalizing Tainonaíki (the Taíno language) and from my work as Co-chair of Ad-hoc Group 1 for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, this presentation highlights the real-world impact of language technology on cultural continuity, identity, and community empowerment. It explores how Unicode and language policy intersect to determine whether a language can fully participate in modern digital life. Through the lens of Taíno language revitalization, participants will examine the opportunities and challenges of establishing a digital presence for languages long excluded from mainstream technological ecosystems. The session will explore how technical infrastructure shapes language learning, content creation, discoverability, and intergenerational transmission, while also addressing the knowledge gaps many Indigenous communities face when beginning language reclamation efforts from scratch. Using Taíno—a language still categorized as extinct by the World Atlas of Languages—as an example, the presentation will highlight the possibilities that modern technology offers for language revitalization and re-emergence. Participants will be introduced to Tainonaíki for Beginners, the world’s first digital course for the Taíno language, as an example of how communities can leverage digital tools to create accessible learning pathways and reconnect descendants with their linguistic heritage. While the Taíno experience serves as a reference point, the lessons presented are relevant to Indigenous, minority, and endangered language communities worldwide. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between Unicode and language revitalization, as well as the ways technologists, linguists, policymakers, and community advocates can collaborate to build a more inclusive digital future.