The Future of Nepali Language: Can AI Lead Its Revival?

ASMITA BHARADWAJ

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Have you ever stopped to think about how we interact with numbers? In our daily lives, we often take for granted the symbols we use to quantify the world around us.

Take note that did we even knew they were numbers? They make up the Nepali language's fundamental counting system and are written in Devanagari script. The catch is that they are jumbled. Did you see that?

While some of us might have had trouble at all connecting the symbols to numbers, others would have recognised the symbols but not the sequence. This little activity acts as a reminder. It's about how far we've come from the scripts and languages that characterize our legacy, not just about knowing how to recognise digits. How do we reconnect in a society when technology and global communication rule?

About 40% of the world's languages are in danger of going extinct, according to UNESCO's Atlas of World Languages in Danger (2023). Although Nepali is not endangered at this stage, the digital divide presents particular difficulties for its development and preservation in contemporary times. The preservation and resuscitation of traditional languages in the age of artificial intelligence presents a unique challenge in a time when digital transformation permeates every part of our life. At this critical nexus of history and technology sits the Nepali language, with its rich legacy and distinctive Devanagari script.

The Digital Divide

We live in a restless age when waiting for a 30-second video to end feels like a chore in today's fast-paced society. Since instant satisfaction is commonplace, communication is moving more and more towards brief exchanges in this setting, frequently eschewing the depth of written expression. For many of us, writing—especially in its conventional forms—takes a backseat to language as a means of instant connection. As per the Oxjournal, there has been a noticeable change in younger populations, especially those under 30, with a clear preference for visual or audio information over written content, including videos and social media posts. This inclination illustrates a larger pattern in which more conventional modes of reading and writing are gradually being replaced by the quick consumption of multimedia content on websites like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. An increasing issue is brought to light by these trends: we run the risk of losing touch with the more profound facets of language, like composition, syntax, and the subtleties of written communication, as we become more dependent on digital communication technologies. The preservation of linguistic identities and cultural legacy may also be impacted by this change, as less durable digital mediums replace textual traditions.

The obstacle lies in adaptability rather than preservation. Languages like Nepali run the risk of falling behind in the technology revolution, even though English currently rules the digital world. Keyboard layouts and optical character recognition (OCR) systems present unique obstacles for traditional script systems, such as Devanagari, when it comes to digital integration.

AI as a Bridge, Not a Barrier

Artificial intelligence, however, may provide surprising answers. Traditional languages have a chance to flourish in the digital era thanks to recent advancements in machine learning and natural language processing (NLP). AI-driven technologies can now:

?      Make it easier to translate between Nepali and other languages in real time.

?      Improve digital text recognition of Devanagari script

?      Provide flexible learning environments to preserve language.

?      Create material in Nepali while preserving linguistic integrity.

By building databases, digitizing manuscripts, and making historical texts available online, artificial intelligence (AI) can aid in the preservation and digitisation of endangered languages. AI-driven platforms and applications can offer engaging educational opportunities, assisting younger generations in rediscovering their mother tongue. Additionally, spoken Nepali can be converted into written form by AI algorithms, increasing the language's accessibility, particularly in casual settings like social media. By providing resources on proper Nepali grammar, writing, and pronunciation, it can promote the use of Devanagari script. Technology can become more useful and relevant in everyday communication and education with the help of localized AI models that are sensitive to Nepali quirks. With real-time translation and subtitling tools, artificial intelligence (AI) can also help break down linguistic boundaries and promote Nepali to a worldwide audience, increasing its prominence.

Challenges and Opportunities

The Digital Language Diversity Project (2023) estimates that languages with a significant online presence have a threefold higher chance of surviving in the ensuing decades. This offers an opportunity and a challenge for the Nepali language and its speakers.

Significant concerns regarding Nepali's future are brought up by recent debates regarding the country's classical language status, where a number of languages, including Bengali, Assamese and Marathi, have been granted this esteemed designation. Even though the language has challenges achieving the requirements for classical status, especially the requirement of 1,500–2,000 years of documented history, this offers a chance to investigate contemporary preservation techniques, particularly those using artificial intelligence.

Through useful applications, artificial intelligence (AI) has the ability to drastically change the promotion and preservation of Nepali. AI-powered OCR technologies, for example, can digitize old Nepali manuscripts, and ChatGPT-like virtual language teachers can provide individualized instruction. Though sophisticated AI models could increase accuracy and maintain regional languages, Google Translate and Microsoft Translator already handle Nepali. The language is now easier to use in everyday digital life thanks to smart keyboards that can predict Nepali text and voice assistants that can comprehend Nepali commands. Furthermore, older speakers' stories can be transcribed using speech recognition AI to assist preserve oral traditions, and machine learning algorithms can classify and archive traditional poetry and folk tunes. While maintaining its rich cultural legacy, these technological advancements guarantee that Nepali will continue to be relevant in our digital age.

NEP 2020: A New Dawn for Indian Nepali Language Education

In particular, the National Education Policy 2020's focus on mother tongue instruction and the creation of the Ability Enhancement Course (AEC), offers an exceptional opportunity for the advancement of the Indian Nepali language. A potential precedent for other areas has been established by the numerous educational institutions in Assam that have already begun integrating Nepali language programs. Particularly for students in areas with sizable Nepali-speaking populations, the flexibility of the NEP system, which promotes lifelong learning, is consistent with the possibility of providing Nepali language and literature as an elective under AEC. Institutions can take advantage of an ideal opportunity to promote the rich cultural history of Nepali-speaking communities and improve students' language proficiency by integrating Nepali language courses into the AEC framework.

The Role of Nepali-Speaking Individuals: A way forward

Through digital innovation, youth participation, and workable solutions, intellectuals and academics may play a critical role in promoting and maintaining the Nepali language within Indian Nepali (Gorkha) communities. They can promote a stronger bond with the language by producing content that emphasizes Indian Nepali literature and culture, building multilingual applications, and setting up digital repositories of renowned authors. They might also discuss the influence on Nepali literary traditions, particularly in metropolitan areas, of the growing demand for English schooling. Online forums, literary festivals, and partnerships with academic institutions such as Sikkim University, BHU, and NBU etc. can all be crucial in interacting with young people. In order to foster a stronger bond between generations, social media can also be used to advertise culture, host contests, and digitally record regional languages and customs.

(Asmita Bharadwaj is a Research Scholar at Intellectual Forum of North East. Views are personal. Email: asmitaassam@gmail.com)