Description
Key words: Digital Language Equality, Technology Roadmap, Language Technology, Multilingualism, Language-Centric AIAbstract: Twenty-four official languages and more than 60 regional and minority languages constitute the fabric of the EU s linguisticlandscape. However, language barriers still hamper communication and the free flow of information across the EU.Multilingualism is a key cultural cornerstone of Europe and signifies what it means to be and to feel European. Many studiesand resolutions, as noted in the recent EP resolution Language equality in the digital age , have found a striking imbalancein terms of support through language technologies and issue a call to action. This project answers this call and lays thefoundations for a strategic agenda and roadmap for making digital language equality a reality in Europe by 2030. Theprimary goal of ELE is to prepare the European Language Equality Programme, in the form of a strategic research,innovation and implementation agenda and a roadmap for achieving full digital language equality in Europe by 2030. Thisprogramme will be prepared jointly with the whole European Language Technology, Computational Linguistics andlanguage-centric AI community, as well as with representatives of relevant initiatives and associations, languagecommunities and RML groups. The consortium includes all relevant scientific and industrial stakeholders from all MemberStates and Associated Countries and engages them in the process. The whole community is included in the project throughexternal consultation sessions. The project plan is fully optimised towards this key goal of preparing the strategic agendaand roadmap and of involving the whole European LT community. Ensuring appropriate technology support for all Europeanlanguages will create jobs, growth and opportunities in the digital single market. Equally crucial, overcoming languagebarriers in the digital environment is essential for an inclusive society and for providing unity in diversity for many years tocome. The ELE project provides a roadmap and framework to achieve this.
