My guest today is Jack Connor, a linguist, programmer, and author who speaks more than seven languages and has built various AI language technologies. In 2023, Jack launched a project to preserve endangered languages, believing that losing a language means losing an entire culture. Outside of his work, Jack is also a semi-professional skateboarder and has lived in ten countries.
TIMELINE
00:57 Introduction to Language Preservation and LLMs
03:23 The Importance of Navajo Language and Its History
05:58 The Arctic World Archive and Language Storage
08:28 Cultural Significance of Language Preservation
11:15 AI's Role in Language Preservation and Revitalization
13:43 Challenges in Preserving Living Languages
16:32 Traditional vs. Modern Methods of Language Preservation
21:16 Preserving Languages Through Technology
22:22 Working with Native Speakers for Accuracy
23:46 The Importance of Quality Assurance in AI
25:14 The Risks of Machine-Generated Content
25:49 Language Diversity and Dialects
27:42 The Complexity of Language Classification
29:28 Cultural Exchange and Language Learning
30:53 Skateboarding and Language Preservation
33:50 Self-Motivation in Learning Languages
36:01 Experiencing Culture Through Language
37:57 Global Trends in Language Extinction
41:13 Cultural Connections Through Language
42:42 Preserving Endangered Languages
48:52 The Role of Fellowships in Language Projects
53:45 Language Learning and Cultural Immersion
56:01 Linguistic Determinism in Sci-Fi
58:57 Future of Language Preservation and AI's Expanding Role
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:
* Follow Jack Connor on Twitter
* Navajo language
* [Navajo Code Talkers](https://www.britannica.com/story/navajo-code-talkers-infographic#:~:text=That language had no alphabet,code based on word substitution.)
* Code Talker, book by Chester Nez
* The Future of Data Preservation - AWA
* Sami language
* Naba language
* Basque language
* Mutual intelligibility
* Cahuilla language
* Documenting Endangered Languages: 𝕏 Interview
* O'Shaughnessy Fellowships
* Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
* Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang