Microsoft and the New Zealand government are collaborating to integrate the Māori language into Microsoft Translator, marking a significant step in the preservation of te reo Māori. This initiative aims to revitalize the language, which is currently spoken by only 3% of New Zealand’s Māori population, by making it accessible through automatic translation with over 60 other languages. The partnership with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, the Māori Language Commission, has been crucial in developing a robust translation model, leveraging a curated corpus of documents to ensure accuracy.

This development highlights the growing role of machine translation technology not just for practical communication but also for cultural preservation. As languages face extinction, initiatives like this demonstrate how localization and language technology can foster inclusion and education, making endangered languages relevant in today’s digital landscape.

For localization professionals, this case exemplifies the potential of AI-driven tools to support linguistic diversity and cultural heritage, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in language technology projects.

Source: techcrunch.com