Google Translate has added Inuktut, marking the first time an indigenous language spoken in Canada is available on the service. This development is part of Google’s broader initiative to support more languages using the capabilities of its PaLM 2 large language model (LLM).
According to a company blog post by Isaac Caswell, Senior Software Engineer at Google Translate, the team collaborated closely with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), a national organization representing Inuit communities in Canada. ITK provided essential guidance to ensure that the translations reflect the language accurately, including supporting both Inuktut writing systems: qaniujaaqpait (syllabics) and qaliujaaqpait (Roman alphabet).
“[ITK’s] thoughtful feedback on this initiative was indispensable, and we hope that this tool can help them in their mission to empower Inuit communities and help Inuktut thrive,” Caswell wrote.
In an interview with CBC/Radio-Canada, ITK President Natan Obed expressed support for the initiative, calling it “reconciliation in action.” “I really appreciate those who’ve taken the time to work with us to keep our language strong and to celebrate our language.”
Other members of the Inuit community have also applauded the effort. According to a CBC News article, Anita Tenasco, director of Indigenous initiatives at Algonquin College in Ottawa, called it a “step forward.” “There’s a lot of work to do, and Google Translate is one tool that is now in place,” she said. She highlighted the tool’s potential for helping students and residents maintain their linguistic heritage while living far from their communities.
Inuktut’s addition to Google Translate was not without technical challenges. Caswell explained that Inuktut is an “exceedingly complex language” with few existing online data sources. Despite these challenges, Caswell noted that the technology will improve as Google receives more feedback from the community. “We look forward to continuing to collaborate with expert linguists, first-language Inuktut speakers, and Inuit leaders to improve the translation quality and expand the capability to new surfaces,” he wrote.
