HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT)* NATIONAL STRATEGY

1. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT)* NATIONAL STRATEGY *Human Language Technologies (HLTs) are those information technologies that facilitate and support communication through human language, across languages, in both spoken and written form. It provides, amongst others, for a wide range of applications through which a person can interact with an automated system simply by using his or her language of choice.

2. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • In collaboration with the HLT Steering Committee, the HLT Unit of the NLS compiled the HLT National Strategy with a view to avoid duplication of efforts and to pool scarce resources through coordination and integration of HLT activities in the country. • This HLT Steering Committee was appointed by the Minister and includes representatives of PanSALB, NRF, CSIR, SITA, GCIS, institutions of higher learning and the Association of Historically Disadvantaged Institutions.

3. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • The process leading to the coordination of HLT activities and establishment of the HLT resource Centre was initiated back in 1999/2000 by the then Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST), in collaboration with the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB). • The DACST/PanSALB report led to the establishment of the Ministerial Advisory Panel on HLT in 2001. • Following the report of the Panel, the current HLT Steering Committee was appointed in 2003 to carry the process forward.

4. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • The development of HLTs is in line with the constitutional provision that requires that practical and positive measures be taken to elevate the status and advance the use of South Africa’s official languages. • Specific reference to HLT is also made in section 3(3.4) of the National Language Policy Framework (NLPF) as approved by Cabinet in February 2003. • The development of an HLT strategy is indicated in section 4 (4.8) as one of the implementation mechanisms of the NLPF.

5. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • The draft HLT National Strategy outlines • the context of the strategy (historical and legislative); • the key elements that entail the objectives, principles and provisions of the strategy; • major role players; • benefits that include access to government services, promotion of multilingualism, economic development and accommodation of disabled person’s needs; • and implementation process.

6. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • KEY ELEMENTS OF THE STRATEGY - OBJECTIVES Ensure redress for previously marginalised indigenous languages by involving technological tools in enhancing their usefulness beyond their traditional use.  Develop and support human capacity building initiatives.  Ensure access to all HLT resources generated through government funds by creating the necessary infrastructure.  Ensure proper coordination of HLT activities in SA.

7. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • KEY ELEMENTS OF THE STRATEGY (cont.) - PRINCIPLES Focus will be on the development and use of official languages through the adaptation or development of appropriate technologies, and also on the needs of all citizens of SA regardless of language preference, level of literacy, physical condition, financial disposition or locality. Will take place with financial support of national government, while involving the private sector in a bid to develop an HLT industry in the country, with a focus on transformation and black economic empowerment. Revenues accrued will be reinvested in HLT research and development.

8. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • KEY ELEMENTS OF THE STRATEGY (cont.) - PROVISIONS Strategy applies unconditionally to all government structures. HLT activities within government will be coordinated, managed and marketed by the DAC HLT Unit. The National Centre for HLT will coordinate research, development, training and consultation over a broad spectrum. Priority will be given to undertakings that facilitate and promote government priority projects. National and international experts will advise and assist DAC. Advisory panel with broad stakeholder representation will guide activities of National Centre for HLT.

9. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • MAJOR ROLE PLAYERS Departments of Arts and Culture Science and Technology Communications  Trade and Industry South African Broadcasting Corporation Government Communication and Information Systems SITA PanSALB CSIR Meraka Institute National Research Foundation Higher Education Institutions International role players Private sector (Business and Industry.)

10. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • BENEFITS - ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT SERVICES Delivered at most convenient times and locations in language of citizens’ choice. Telephone services, including cellular phones, will be a major service delivery tool. Access to information on health issues, procedures to register for pensions, births, unemployment benefits, ID documents, passports etc. through automated telephone-based systems in language of choice. Relatively low levels of infrastructure and user/client sophistication required.

11. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • BENEFITS (cont.) - MULTILINGUALISM  Capacity to display, search and process multiple languages on a website or system, as well as verbally communicating with a system using the language of choice, is a basic requirement for functional multilingualism. Availability of services in all languages will encourage citizens to use their own languages in all spheres. Computer-assisted language learning will contribute to citizens becoming multilingual. Ability to access technology through language of choice will reduce reluctance to use technology, narrowing the digital divide.

12. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • BENEFITS (cont.) - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Improved language communication abilities will increase industrial competitiveness. E-commerce and call –centre-based applications. Potential commercialisation of HLT applications in the indigenous languages ideal for black-empowered SMMEs.

13. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • BENEFITS (cont.) - ACCOMMODATION OF DISABLED PERSONS’ NEEDS Speech-based systems applicable for illiterates, as well as for visually impaired and physically impaired users as communication takes place using voice only.  Voice-enabled typing enables user to speak to the computer and have the text appear on the screen without having to type it. Speech recognition technology enables hearing-impaired users to receive verbal communication in written format. Text-to-speech systems convert any text, e.g. email or SMS, to speech in a particular language, enabling illiterate or visually impaired persons to receive written communication in verbal format.

14. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS • The National Centre for HLT will be established as a repository for reusable electronic text and speech data. • The Centre will form the hub of HLT activities in the country, facilitating research, development and capacity building conducive to building a flourishing HLT industry. • The HLT Unit within the National Language Service will coordinate HLT activities within government structures and work in close cooperation with the Centre. It will also monitor progress and report to relevant authorities.

15. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS (cont.) • Measures will be taken to forge collaboration and active networking with international bodies. • The HLT Unit, in conjunction with the parties involved, will decide on the HLT activities/projects to be undertaken and on the time frames. • Internally driven projects will focus on the basic development functions of the Centre. • Externally driven project will be responsive to the needs of government operations.

16. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS (cont.) • Government structures will have time to plan their budgets by increasing allocations over the MTEF period and planning operations in line with the resources required. • Funding from government sources will be used for the development of human resources and the systematic development of language resources and language processing tools. • The private sector will get involved in the funding and development of HLT activities and funds from national and international donors will be used to stimulate the development of HLT projects. • HLT projects that can be commercialised will be encouraged to become self-supportive.

17. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • Key to the implementation of this strategy is the establishment of a National Centre for HLT which will form a central hub and coordinate research, development, training and consultation over a broad spectrum in the field of HLT. • Furthermore, the Centre will ensure access to all HLT resources that have been generated through government funds by creating an infrastructure for collecting, developing, managing and distributing reusable language resources such as electronic text and speech data.

18. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • In order for the HLT initiative to succeed, it is imperative that the strategy be approved by Cabinet and implemented without delay. • The HLT Unit initiated the process of getting the strategy approved by the Department of Arts and Culture. • At the Broad Management meeting held in Cape Town in September 2006, a decision was taken that a submission be written to the Minister to request his approval of the strategy and permission to take it to the TIC and MinMEC for their recommendations. The submission was signed on 1 June 2007.

19. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • After eight years it is necessary that all the effort and energy that went into this initiative since 1999 need to bear tangible results. • The HLT Steering Committee, already in the fourth year of its five-year term, is deeply concerned about the slow pace of progress regarding the approval of the National HLT Strategy and the lack of funding for the establishment of the National HLT Centre. Hence the Committee raised this matter with the Minister at a meeting on 2 August 2007.

20. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY • DAC has a responsibility in terms of the Constitution and the NLPF to pursue the integrated development of HLTs in order to enable citizens to access government information and services through their language of choice, regardless of level of literacy or physical disabilities. Without the approval of the HLT Strategy by Cabinet this goal will not be achieved. • An alarming fact, which carries the risk that the strategy will be overtaken by the current situation if not approved without delay, is that activities in the field of HLT are rapidly increasing, and taking place in an uncoordinated and fragmented way all over.

21. HUMAN LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES (HLT) NATIONAL STRATEGY CONCLUSION: It is hoped that the endorsement of the HLT National Strategy by the Portfolio Committee will contribute to the approval of the strategy by Cabinet and its subsequent implementation.