Changing the Trajectory: Preserving the Linguistic Diversity of Shi Language Using AI and NLP

This research explores the significance of utilizing AI and NLP in the conservation and revitalization of endangered languages, with a specific focus on the Shi language spoken by approximately 1,725,000 people in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Shi language, written in the Latin alphabet, faces the risk of extinction due to decreasing usage among younger generations who are shifting to Swahili and French. This chapter highlights the importance of AI in preserving the cultural heritage embedded within Indigenous languages like Shi, emphasizing the need for technological interventions to reverse language decline. Hence, this study emphasizes the significance of AI and NLP in preserving cultural heritage and linguistic diversity, drawing from previous research on the Shi language, available data, and experiences from other Indigenous language revitalization efforts.