06/08/2026
I’m excited, humbled, blessed, and honestly feeling all the feels to be participating in this year’s Unicode Technology Workshop (UTW 2026) in Nancy, France. 🇫🇷💜
I’ve dreamed of visiting France since I began studying French at 12 years old, and now, to be traveling there to present at one of the world’s premier technology conferences feels surreal. Moreover, to share the story of the world’s first digital course for the Taíno language—the language of my ancestors, a language that is still categorized as extinct—will be one of those pinch-me moments of my life.
I am so grateful every day that I have the opportunity to do this work for my community and to help bring our language, history, and culture into new spaces around the world. 🌿
Jajóm (thank you) Javier Hernandez, 7000 Languages, and Transparent Language for supporting me throughout the course creation process. 🥰
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🎤 New Session Confirmed for Unicode Technology Workshop 2026
Unicode in Indigenous Language Revitalization: Lessons from the Taíno Community
Unicode is often viewed as a technical standard, but for Indigenous communities revitalizing endangered or previously dormant languages, digital inclusion requires much more than encoding characters. Drawing from the experience of revitalizing Tainonaíki (the Taíno language) and from Priscilla Colón's work as Co-chair of Ad-hoc Group 1 for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, this presentation highlights the real-world impact of language technology on cultural continuity, identity, and community empowerment. It explores how Unicode and language policy intersect to determine whether a language can fully participate in modern digital life. Through the lens of Taíno language revitalization, participants will examine the opportunities and challenges of establishing a digital presence for languages long excluded from mainstream technological ecosystems. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between Unicode and language revitalization, as well as the ways technologists, linguists, policymakers, and community advocates can collaborate to build a more inclusive digital future.
📅 Early bird registration ends August 7!
Secure your seat NOW! 🎟️
https://lnkd.in/g5_jMSZ6