Sealaska Heritage Institute released new languages learning apps for Xaad Kil and Shm’algyack this month. These are the first apps in their class and aim to help people learn the vanishing Indigenous languages.
Leah Urbanski with Sealaska Heritage Institute recently presented a brand new game application. You can choose which language you would like to learn -for example, Lingit, Xaad Kil or Shm’algyack.
Urbanski chose Xaad Kil, which is the Haida language. Her phone’s screen was filled with cartoon sea creature animations.
It’s a span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”So it’s all kinds of live animals flitting around your screen.” Urbanski said. “And when the mouse is pressed, this animal simply pops up from out of the blue.”
A harbor seal appeared at the edge of the screen gazing at us. When Urbanski hit it, the Xaad Kil name came up: Xuud.
The app also has a game that includes a flora full of birds that are native from Southeast Alaska, a quiz game, and many more for one side, the Lingit side. The application is dubbed SHI Language Games.
The app, along with two others launched this month is SHI’s first foray into the Xaad Kil or Shm’algyack, a Tsimshian language, into app form.
The newest language applications are similar to the Lingit one that SHI launched a few times ago. They are named SHI Learning Haida and SHI: Learning Shm’algyack.
They include phrases, vocabulary and the alphabet’s breakdown as well as audios to help students to pronounce every sound correctly.
It is believed that the Xaad Kil voice that users listen to the voice of Skil Jaadei Linda Shrack and the Shm’algyack comes from Shiggoap Alfie Price. Price and Schrack collaborated with a an expert team of experts in language to develop the applications.
It is true that the Xaad Kil as well as the Shm’algyack applications are less content-rich than the Lingit app currently however Urbanski has said that this will alter.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”For the moment the font we currently already have,”” the woman said. “But we’ll add to it as we go by accumulating all types of vocab we’ll need. .”
She explained that these apps are another method students can interact with Xaad Kil and Shm’algyack.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I think that getting languages available in as many different ways as is possible is crucial in our ever-changing global society,” Urbanski said. “Technology is among the most important things that many people employ. .”
Apps are particularly beneficial for students who are younger She added that they’re available for download at no cost from app stores for iPhones or Android gadgets.
