Thursday, May 4, 2023

Lakota Language Consortium (LLC) Unveils Largest Native American Dictionary Ever Created During New York - Benzinga - Dictionary

After Lakota Language Weekend, hosted by NYC American Indian Community House, the Lakota Language Consortium (LLC) made donations of the New Lakota Dictionary to the New York Public Library and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

NEW YORK (PRWEB) May 04, 2023

The Lakota Language Consortium (LLC) hosted a Lakota Language Weekend in partnership with New York City's American Indian Community House on February 25 and 26. During the weekend attendees spoke and read Lakota utilizing learning materials developed by the Lakota Language Consortium.

At Lakota Language Weekend, LLC unveiled the recently published Third Edition of the New Lakota Dictionary. The dictionary contains more than 20,000 new words and phrases, plus grammar and sentence structure curriculum. After Lakota Language Weekend, CEO Wilhelm Meya made donations of the New Lakota Dictionary to the New York Public Library and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

Lakota Language Weekend instruction was directed by Alex FireThunder, a Lakota language teacher and deputy director of LLC. During the event, FireThunder also provided a comprehensive overview of intuitive e-learning platforms including Owรณksape, a free online platform developed by The Language Conservancy (TLC) that has delivered more than 3 million Lakota lessons to more than 15,000 independent learners.

According to Meya, "Our nonprofit is incredibly proud to have completed the Third Edition of the New Lakota Dictionary! We could not have accomplished this tremendous milestone without our partners – Lakota Elders and speakers, linguists, schools, tribal leadership, Lakota board members, and educators. We are deeply committed to continuing this vital work."

About Lakota Language Consortium (LLC)

The Lakota Language Consortium is a nonprofit organization of Lakota community members, educators, linguists, and volunteers leading the way to revitalize the Lakota language through educational programs, teacher trainings, dictionaries, textbooks, apps, and other free digital Lakota language learning materials. The Consortium advocates for Lakota language and culture through the production of award-winning media like the Lakota version of The Berenstain Bears and the documentary, Rising Voices. Visit https://lakhota.org to learn more about LLC's mission to protect and strengthen the Lakota language.

More About Wil Meya:

Wilhelm Meya on LinkedIn
Wilhelm Meya on ATD
Wilhelm Meya on Podomatic
Wilhelm Meya on Soundcloud

For the original version on PRWeb visit: https://ift.tt/8VXFnrp

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What is "Dutch Oven"? Urban Dictionary meaning explored - Sportskeeda - Dictionary

The Dutch oven is traditionally known as a pot with a tight-fitting lid that creates an oven-like environment, ensuring your food is cooked in a manner similar to being made with the help of a oven, despite being in a pot. However, the Urban Dictionary gives an alternative meaning to the word "Dutch oven" that you may have heard online.

As per the Urban Dictionary, the alternative meaning of the term "Dutch oven" is when you trap someone under the duvets after you have farted. The Dictionary has the following displayed on their website:

"Farting under the blanket then lifting it up trapping your significant other under the covers."

As per Google search trends, the term "Dutch Oven" has been gaining significant popularity online. Several netizens are looking for the meaning of the term to help them understand it.

Have u ever heard of the expression "Dutch oven" ?
Its when you fart under the blankets and the blanket traps the odor until you lift it.
I learnt about this the hard way. Did often use thick heavy blankets in naija and windows are usually open so I never experienced this.
I… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Have u ever heard of the expression "Dutch oven" ?Its when you fart under the blankets and the blanket traps the odor until you lift it.I learnt about this the hard way. Did often use thick heavy blankets in naija and windows are usually open so I never experienced this.I… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Although the adopted slang meaning is very different from what one expects, the traditional meaning is sweet and simple.


"Dutch oven" has been gaining traction online as a new slang term

Tradition dictates that a Dutch oven is a cooking pot with an extremely tight lid. These pots are typically made of seasoned cast iron, and there are others that are made from ceramics and aluminum, if not iron.

In Dutch, the oven is called a "braadpan," which literally translates to a roasting pan. Another name used for the Dutch pot is a "sudderpan," which means simmerpan or simmering pot of some kind. Pots and pretend ovens, like the Dutch one, are used for cooking meat and vegetable dishes, as well as for making traditional stews.

These cooking pots may be called French ovens as well as Dutch. In the United Kingdom and the United States, the pots are well-known for their casserole dishes.

A DUTCH OVEN: one who passes gas under the cover

A DUTCH OVEN: one who passes gas under the cover

The Urban dictionary explains the meaning of "Dutch ovening your partner" as the action of lifting a duvet or blanket over your partner's head and trapping them in the heat of your personal essence.

The internet has been in a frenzy since the alternative meaning of the pot has gone viral. Several netizens are taking to Twitter to discuss the blanket-trapping activity of one's partner.


Netizens took to Twitter to discuss the oven pot and its double meaning

Numerous social media users noticed the oven trending on Google and decided to find out its meaning themselves. While some were redirected to the definition of the traditional pot, others stumbled upon the alternative meaning of the word.

Unsurprisingly, the majority of the users weren't comfortable with the idea of a warm, personal-essence-filled environment.

what’s a dutch oven and why is she tryna do it to me

what’s a dutch oven and why is she tryna do it to me
Have any of you men or women given your significant other a Dutch Oven? A Dutch Oven is when you let go a fart and pull the sheets over each other’s head?๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ
Have any of you men or women given your significant other a Dutch Oven? A Dutch Oven is when you let go a fart and pull the sheets over each other’s head?๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ

I’m lactose intolerant, had some ice cream this afternoon, and currently in a self-induced Dutch oven breathing in pure death.

I’m lactose intolerant, had some ice cream this afternoon, and currently in a self-induced Dutch oven breathing in pure death.

One user used an image of Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's outfit at the 2021 Met Gala to showcase what it might be like to be trapped in one.

New Halloween costume idea: “The Dutch Oven”

A fart and the blanket you trapped it under

View image on Twitter
New Halloween costume idea: “The Dutch Oven”A fart and the blanket you trapped it under https://t.co/Zy90bJ0Xnr

Among other terms, the internet has adopted several slang phrases that are spreading quickly online. Phrases like "it's giving," "era," "fit check," and "vibe check" are just a few of the several expressions that are in and out of trends quicker than ever.

"Zombied" is another new term that TikToker Mariel Darling chose to share with her 255,000+ followers. It refers to someone being ghosted by another and the latter coming back once in a while to engage with the person in question.

More from Sportskeeda

Edited by Susrita Das

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Welsh language oath asks people to curse at God - BBC - Translation

Prince Charles at the state opening of parliament in 2022Getty Images

A citizenship oath written in Welsh has been criticised for an error asking people to literally curse at God.

Wales' education minister Jeremy Miles says he will write to the UK government to remind them to use the language accurately.

It comes after an emergency mobile text alert in Welsh used a made-up word.

The Home Office, which produced the oath of allegiance, said it recognises the "importance" of correct translation.

People taking part in a citizenship ceremony have to give either the oath or the affirmation of allegiance to the King, as well as a pledge of loyalty to the UK.

A Home Office website, which is still live and has not been corrected, gives the English version of the oath of allegiance as: "I, (name), swear by Almighty God that, on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His Heirs and Successors, according to law."

But in Welsh it uses the term "rhegi", which means to curse. The Welsh for a vow is "tyngu".

It also uses the word "omnipotent" - which is not a Welsh word - as a translation of "almighty", instead of the Welsh "hollalluog".

Jeremy Miles

The alternative affirmation of allegiance in Welsh includes mutations that should only be used for a female monarch.

Mutations are ways in which words change according to context.

There is also a grammatical error in translating "freedoms" in the Welsh pledge.

Last month, a translation blunder that saw a Slovenian ski resort mentioned in the Welsh version of the emergency alert test was blamed on autocorrect.

For the Welsh for "others safe", the test message read "eraill yn Vogel" instead of "eraill yn ddiogel".

'Status of the Welsh language'

Earlier this week Plaid Cymru MS Llyr Gruffydd told the Senedd while mistranslations or spelling errors can be amusing at first sight "they do send a very unfortunate message in terms of the status of the Welsh language, when we see these examples being tolerated far too often".

He called on the education minister to write to public sector bodies in Wales, and to the UK government, "to encourage them and to remind them of their responsibilities in this regard".

Mr Miles replied that he is "very happy to do that", adding "if there was less emphasis on complaining about renaming Bannau Brycheiniog, and more emphasis on accuracy, we might all be happier".

Rishi Sunak said last week he will keep using the English name Brecon Beacons, which the national park has dropped.

E-mail out of office message on a road sign

Mr Miles said that the Welsh government facilitates Welsh language accuracy "through funding resources such as Welsh language spell-checkers and grammar checkers".

The Home Office said: "We recognise that a correct translation of the citizenship oath and pledge on gov.uk is important to reflect the significance of becoming a British citizen."

  • E-mail error ends up on road sign
  • Autocorrect blamed for emergency alert Welsh gaffe
  • Gun salute in Wales as Charles proclaimed king

Manon Cadwaladr, chair of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru, the Association of Welsh Translators, said: "More and more people are using translation machines and we recognize that the quality of those machines is gradually improving.

"Nevertheless, good and accurate translation is specialist work. It is a craft. It requires specific skills, as well as experience".

She added that "to translate correctly into Welsh requires a real understanding of our language, our culture and the audience".

Related Topics

  • Home Office
  • Welsh language
  • Welsh government
  • King Charles III

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Assam bilingual Braille dictionary is world’s largest lexicon - The Hindu - Dictionary

GUWAHATI

A 21-volume Braille version of an Assamese-English dictionary weighing more than 80 kg, has become the world’s largest lexicon.

The authorities of the Guinness World Records on May 1 handed over a certificate to Jayanta Baruah, the publisher of the Braille version of Hemkosh, acknowledging its inclusion in the book as the world’s largest bilingual Braille dictionary.

The 123-year-old Hemkosh is the first etymological dictionary of the Assamese language based on Sanskrit spellings, compiled by Mr. Baruah’s grandfather, Hemchandra Baruah.

The 10,279-page Braille version of the Hemkosh has 90,640 words printed in 21 volumes and weighs 80.800 kg. A copy of the dictionary, released in September 2022, was presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

“A world record is always special. But what matters most is illuminating the lives of the visually impaired with the power of words,” Mr. Baruah said while accepting the certificate along with Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria.

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Wednesday, May 3, 2023

AI translation puts asylum seekers in jeopardy - Boing Boing - Translation

Maybe you've used a translation program powered by neural networks or artificial intelligence and ran into an embarrassing or amusing error.

Imagine how much more likely those kinds of errors could be if the language you were translating from or into was relatively obscure, with its speakers neither numerous nor economically powerful.

And now imagine that every nuance of that translation affected the health and well being of you and your family.

Afghan refugees applying for U.S. asylum are finding that just these types of errors can lead to rejected applications and dire consequences.

Human translators are expensive, but the cheaper alternative of AI translators can lead to disastrous consequences, according to an article in Rest of World.

"In 2020, Uma Mirkhail got a firsthand demonstration of how damaging a bad translation can be.

"A crisis translator specializing in Afghan languages, Mirkhail was working with a Pashto-speaking refugee who had fled Afghanistan. A U.S. court had denied the refugee's asylum bid because her written application didn't match the story told in the initial interviews.

"In the interviews, the refugee had first maintained that she'd made it through one particular event alone, but the written statement seemed to reference other people with her at the time — a discrepancy large enough for a judge to reject her asylum claim.

"After Mirkhail went over the documents, she saw what had gone wrong: An automated translation tool had swapped the 'I' pronouns in the woman's statement to 'we.'"

Damian Harris-Hernandez, co-founder of the Refugee Translation Project, told Rest of World: "[Machine translation] doesn't have a cultural awareness. Especially if you're doing things like a personal statement that's handwritten by someone. … The person might not be perfect at writing, and also might use metaphors, might use idioms, turns of phrases that if you take literally, don't make any sense at all."

Despite these dangerous flaws, translation companies are marketing their services to U.S. government agencies and to refugee organizations. 

At least one AI developer has recognized the risks.

"OpenAI, the company that makes ChatGPT, updated its user policies in late March with rules that prohibit the use of the AI chatbot in 'high-risk government decision-making,' including work related to both migration and asylum."

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Israeli experts create AI to translate ancient cuneiform text - study - The Jerusalem Post - Translation

Experts in Assyriology – who specialize in the archaeological, historical, cultural and linguistic study of Assyria and the rest of ancient Mesopotamia (Iraq) –spend many years painstakingly trying to understand Akkadian texts written in cuneiform, one of the oldest forms of writing known.

Cuneiform is translated as “wedge-shaped” because in ancient times, people wrote it using a reed stylus cut to make a wedge-shaped mark on a clay tablet.

But now, researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) and Ariel University have developed an artificial intelligence model that will save all this effort. The AI model can automatically translate Akkadian text written in cuneiform into English.

Who were the ancient Assyrians?

In 721 BCE, Assyria swept out of the North, captured the Northern Kingdom of Israel and took the Ten Tribes into captivity, after which they became lost to history. Assyria, named for the god Ashur (highest in the pantheon of Assyrian gods), was located in the Mesopotamian plain. Historians note that Assyrian Jews first appeared in that region when the Israelites were exiled there, and they lived continuously alongside the Assyrian people in the territories after the Assyrian exile.

Hundreds of thousands of clay tablets from ancient Mesopotamia, written in cuneiform and dating back as far as 3,400 BCE have been found by archeologists – far more than could easily be translated by the limited number of experts who can read them.

 Siege scene with two massive L-shaped shields protecting Assyrian soldiers, in a relief from the palace of Tiglath-Pileser III at Nimrud (credit: Courtesy of the British Museum) Siege scene with two massive L-shaped shields protecting Assyrian soldiers, in a relief from the palace of Tiglath-Pileser III at Nimrud (credit: Courtesy of the British Museum)

Dr. Shai Gordin of Ariel University and Dr. Gai Gutherz, Dr. Jonathan Berant and Dr. Omer Levy of TAU and colleagues have just published their findings in the journal PNAS Nexus under the title “Translating Akkadian to English with neural machine translation.”

When they developed the new machine-learning model, they trained two versions – one that translates the Akkadian from representations of the cuneiform signs in Latin script and another that translates from unicode representations of the cuneiform signs. The first version, using Latin transliteration, gave more satisfactory results in this study, achieving a score of 37.47 in the Best Bilingual Evaluation Understudy 4 (BLEU4), which is a test of the level of correspondence between machine and human translation of the same text.

The program is most effective when translating sentences of 118 or fewer characters. In some of the sentences, the program produced “hallucinations” – output that was syntactically correct in English but not accurate.

Gordin noted that in most cases, the translation would be usable as a first-pass at the text. The authors propose that machine translation can be used as part of a “human-machine collaboration,” in which human scholars correct and refine the models’ output.

Hundreds of thousands of clay tablets inscribed in the cuneiform script document the political, social, economic and scientific history of ancient Mesopotamia, they wrote. “Yet, most of these documents remain untranslated and inaccessible due to their sheer number and the limited quantity of experts able to read them.”

They concluded that translation is a fundamental human activity, with a long scholarly history since the beginning of writing. “It can be a complex process, since it commonly requires not only expert knowledge of two different languages but also different cultural milieus. Digital tools that can assist with translation are becoming more ubiquitous every year, tied to advances in fields like optical character recognition (OCR) and machine translation. Ancient languages, however, still pose a towering problem in this regard. Their reading and comprehension require knowledge of a long-dead linguistic community, and moreover, the texts themselves can also be very fragmentary.”

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