Modern linguistic resources and IT applications for the Tatar language: Regional practices

Abstract

The issue of preserving the language of an ethnic group as a language of communication, as well as a carrier of cultural codes, has now acquired particular urgency and relevance. How to preserve and develop a language in the conditions of globalization and widespread digitalization, in the conditions of coming, and in many ways already real, information chaos and in conditions when in the near future most of the known languages are threatened with complete extinction. Obviously, one of the reliable and promising solutions is embedding a language in the digital space as a language of accumulation, processing and transmission of information; a language of communication in the global Internet network. Currently, in the Republic of Tatarstan, a set of organizational and policy measures has been almost completely implemented and the necessary information and technological base has been created to ensure full functioning of the Tatar language in computer technologies, including business and management spheres, publishing, educational activities, linguistic research and development. Another effective and very promising activity is the research and use of the language as a cognitive-conceptual tool that can enrich the mental and spiritual space of civilization as a linguistic-semiotic resource that has the necessary potential for creating new knowledge processing technologies and an intelligent interface. This paper presents the experience of research and practical activities of the Institute of Applied Semiotics of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan in one of the important areas of artificial intelligence called “Natural Language Processing”. Research and development are carried out in three theoretical and applied areas: 1) Tatar national localization of infocommunication technologies, 2) Development of software tools, systems and technologies for natural language processing and creation of linguistic resources, 3) Creation of new intelligent information processing technologies based on the research the cognitive potential of the Tatar language.