Building a Language-Learning Game for Brazilian Indigenous Languages: A Case of Study

TL;DR

This paper presents the initial development of a gamified language learning tool for Brazilian indigenous languages, highlighting design, automatic exercise generation, and ethical considerations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to creating language learning games for Tupian languages using dependency treebanks and lexical databases, emphasizing ethical data collection.

Findings

Prototype demonstrates feasibility of automatic exercise generation

Identifies ethical and practical challenges in data collection

Highlights need for community partnership in language data gathering

Abstract

In this paper we discuss a first attempt to build a language learning game for brazilian indigenous languages and the challenges around it. We present a design for the tool with gamification aspects. Then we describe a process to automatically generate language exercises and questions from a dependency treebank and a lexical database for Tupian languages. We discuss the limitations of our prototype highlighting ethical and practical implementation concerns. Finally, we conclude that new data gathering processes should be established in partnership with indigenous communities and oriented for educational purposes.