Snapchat, First Languages Australia celebrate International Mother Language Day
Snapchat has partnered with First Languages Australia to launch a new series of language learning lenses to help Australians engage with First Nations languages and culture, in celebration of International Mother Language Day (21st of February).
The lenses use AR and machine learning to to identify objects and display their name in one of four Indigenous languages: Wiradjuri (central New South Wales), Yugambeh (south-east Queensland), Wakka Wakka (central Queensland) and Yawuru (Broome in Western Australia).
Users can be accessed globally, with users being able to select which First Nations language they would like to learn by searching “Learn Wiradjuri”, “Learn Yugambeh”, “Learn Wakka Wakka” or “Learn Yawuru”.
More than 170 objects across the four languages will be available to users at launch, with some common translations including ‘ear’ (‘wudha’ in Wiradjuri), ‘spider’ (‘wanggarranggarra’ in Yawuru) and ‘hat’ (‘binka’ in Yugambeh).
When users scan the object with their camera, the lens will automatically display the object’s English and Indigenous language names as well as an audio clip of the word to aid pronunciation. Snapchat and First Languages Australia hope to help Australians engage with First Nations languages and culture by encouraging users to learn more about these languages on the First Languages Australia website, via a swipe up link.
This is not the first time Snapchat has partnered with an Australian organisation to promote a cause. The platform also worked with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation late last year to drive awareness with an AR water segmentation lens.
First Languages Australia’s CEO, Beau Willaims, commented: “It is so important that we continue to support and promote the languages of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We know millions of young Aussies use Snapchat everyday – so this is an incredible opportunity for them to experience our First Nations’ languages in a fun and interactive way on a platform that they love. This project will boost recognition of our languages globally and will support our grassroots programs and help to engage our young people.”
“We are so proud of our heritage and hope that the Wakka Wakka language will live on for future generations. My hope is that being able to see and share their language through Snapchat will encourage our people and others to learn more and give them an opportunity to share their language and culture with their friends, family and community,” added Wakka Wakka descendant and First Languages Australia young champion, Annalee Pope.
Of the collaboration, Snap’s general manager for APAC, Kathryn Carter said that she was ‘thrilled’ to work with First Languages Australia and hoped the lenses would represent the platform’s support for Australia’s ‘Australia’s Aborigibal and Torres Strait Islander communities’.
“We believe the camera is a powerful tool for discovery and learning, and these lenses are such a great example of that. The history, culture and languages of our Indigenous people is rich, diverse and meaningful – it’s so important that we honour and share them with the next generation of young Australians,” said Carter.
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