2025:Program/Voices of Revitalization: Stories and lessons from digital Language activists
Session title: Voices of Revitalization: Stories and lessons from digital Language activists
- Session type: Panel
- Track: Diversity & Inclusion
- Language: en
🎥 Session recording: https://w.wiki/F8vc 🎥
Language revitalization is a crucial effort in preserving cultural identity and ensuring linguistic diversity in the digital age. In this panel, past and present Wikitongues Language Revitalization Fellows and User Group members will share their experiences, challenges, and successes in documenting and revitalizing endangered languages. They will discuss strategies for sustaining their work, fostering community engagement, and leveraging Wikimedia projects and digital tools for long-term impact. Through their stories, this session will highlight the role of inclusivity in language preservation and the lasting impact of the Wikitongues fellowship. Aligned with Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity, Impact, Sustainability, this panel will inspire new approaches to language revitalization within the Wikimedia movement and beyond. Join us as we work towards a world where every language has a voice in the open knowledge movement.
Description
Panel Session Title: Voices of Revitalization: Stories and lessons from digital Language activists
Many languages are disappearing or not well represented online. This panel will bring together past and present Wikitongues Language Revitalization Fellows to share their experiences in saving and promoting their languages. They will talk about the challenges they faced, what worked well, and how they are making sure their work lasts. They will also discuss how communities, digital tools, and Wikimedia projects can help keep languages alive.
This session connects to 'Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity, Impact, Sustainability' by showing how language projects make Wikimedia more inclusive, create real change, and support long-term language preservation.
Aims and Objectives 1. Share Stories of Language Revitalization – Fellows will talk about their work and lessons learned. 2. Teach Ways to Keep Language Projects Going – Discuss how to use Wikimedia and free online tools for long-term success. 3. Encourage Working Together – Connect Wikimedians, language activists, and educators. 4. Show the Impact of the Wikitongues Fellowship – Explain how the program has helped people and communities.
Expected Outcomes - More understanding of how languages can be saved and shared. - Useful tips on keeping language projects alive. - Stronger connections between people working on language projects. - Motivation for new contributors to join language revitalization efforts while advancing free and open knowledge.
This panel will offer real-life examples and simple steps to help more people support language diversity on Wikimedia and beyond.
- How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?
Our panel session connects to Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity, Impact, Sustainability by highlighting the efforts of Wikitongues language fellows in keeping endangered languages alive. Inclusivity is reflected in their work to ensure all languages have a place in the digital world. Impact is seen in how their projects have helped communities document and share their languages. Sustainability is addressed through strategies to keep these efforts going long-term, using Wikimedia platforms and digital tools. By sharing their experiences, the fellows will inspire others to support language preservation, making Wikimedia more diverse and accessible for everyone.
- What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Everyone can participate in this session
Resources
Speakers
- Tochi Precious
- Tochi Precious is an experienced language advocate, open knowledge strategist, and community leader dedicated to linguistic diversity and digital inclusion. With a background in languages and project management, she has played a key role in promoting language documentation, revitalization, and multilingual content creation within the Wikimedia movement.