Rosetta Stone, which helps people learn more than 30 languages though an immersion-based system, began a program in 2004 to help keep dying languages alive. On Tuesday, the popular software launched the Native American Navajo language to this Endangered Language Program.
Still used by more than 100,000 people, Navajo is the most widely spoken of the indigenous American Indian languages. However, the conversation is slowly dying with half of the youth population unable to speak their own native tongue. It took thousands of volunteer hours from the Navajo Language Renaissance, a group of Navajo educators, to contribute resources to the project.
“We’re excited that the Rosetta Stone Endangered Language Program can play a role in encouraging younger generations to use the Navajo language,” said Marion Bittinger, manager of Rosetta Stone’s Endangered Language program according to the Daily Times. “We’re optimistic our work with indigenous groups will be a step toward reversing the tide of global language extinction.”
As the world continues to favor more dominant languages, many traditional cultures are being forgotten by their younger generations and preserving the language is the first step in preserving a culture. Navajo is the fourth endangered language added by Rosetta Stone after Mohawk, Alaskan Inupiac and Eskimo Labrador.
The Endangered Language program works with cultural revitalization institutions, such as the Navajo Language Renaissance, to bring these languages to individuals and classrooms. The groups retain the rights to the educational material and gain exclusive sales and distribution rights of the finalized Rosetta Stone product. The company also started a corporate grant program which helps provide financial assistance for communities who want the language program but cannot afford it.
Photo by Tolka Rover via Flickr.