Edu-leaders

The Information and Technology Department of the Gauhati University is working on a module to develop and roll out electronic applications in native languages like Assamese and Bodo to make benefits of digital revolution feasible and accessible to those who are not well-versed in English.

For this the Gauhati University has tied up with the Linguistic Data Consortium for Indian Languages (LCD-IL) for a 10-day orientation–cum-training programme on natural language processing beginning January 31.

The programme will be held in collaboration with the Department of computer and information technology of the varsity and will be attended by research students and professors from various universities and colleges in the northeast.

Head of Department of the Computer and Information Technology of the Gauhati University Shikhar Sarmah said, "Most of the computer applications in use have been developed by the US and so they are in English, but in India, where less than 10% of the people speak English, it becomes very important to develop applications in native Indian languages."  He added that in countries like Japan, China, and some European countries as well, the digital penetration is deep as applications are available in native languages.