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