An AI approach to automate transcription alignment for first nations languages

语言学的一项主要任务是为后代和分析录音语言的转录。这一过程构成了语言学家的大量体力劳动。虽然这一转录步骤一直是主要语系（如英语或普通话）研究的主题，但对于原住民语言还没有任何重大的研究努力。在这个与行业合作伙伴ISM Canada的合作项目中，提出了一种人工智能（AI）方法来自动对齐第一民族语言的转录。最初的重点将是在阿拉斯加和育空地区使用的上塔纳纳德尼语，未来可能会扩展到其他土著语言。使用转录和时间对齐的语料库作为训练数据集，设想了一种新的深度学习方法，以促进转录过程的自动化，使语言对齐与录音相匹配。该项目将利用音频信号处理和机器学习（ML）方法来设计和测试一种新的人工智能系统，以自动化语言学家在转录方面的手工工作。该项目的成果将有助于ISM通过培育新的机器学习技术，为新的问题领域提供AI/ML服务的适用性，并巩固ISM作为认知分析行业领导者的品牌，从而保持其竞争优势。此外，ISM是“技术为善”和“数据为善”倡议的支持者。为此，这个合作项目清楚地展示了ISM致力于为社区做出贡献并保护土著文化的承诺。在这个项目中开发的技术有可能使土著社区受益，并为语言学家提供研究土著语言的创新自动化工具，从而支持他们保护加拿大文化遗产的重要工作。

A major task in linguistics involves the transcription of audio language recordings for posterity and analysis. This process constitutes a significant amount of manual labour on the part of linguists. While this transcription step has been the subject of research for the major language families, e.g., English or Mandarin, there has not been any significant research effort for First Nations languages. In this collaborative project with the industry partner ISM Canada, an artificial intelligence (AI) approach is proposed to automate the alignment of transcription for the First Nations languages. The initial focus will be on the Upper Tannana Dene Language, spoken in Alaska and the Yukon Territory, with potential future extensions to other indigenous languages. Using a transcribed and time-aligned corpus as a training data set, a novel deep learning method is envisioned to facilitate the automation of the transcription process, matching the linguistic alignment to the audio recordings. This project will leverage audio signal processing and machine learning (ML) methods to design and test a novel AI system to automate the manual work in transcription endeavours by linguists.The outcome of this project would facilitate ISM in maintaining its competitive edge by fostering novel ML technologies, offering applicability of AI/ML services to new problem domains and cementing ISM's brand as an industry leader in Cognitive Analytics. Furthermore, ISM is a supporter of the Tech-For-Good and Data-For-Good initiatives. To this end, this collaborative project serves as a clear demonstration of ISM's commitment to contribute to the community and to protect Aboriginal culture. The technology to be developed in this proposed project has the potential to both benefit the native communities, as well as give linguists innovative automated tools in studying indigenous languages, thus supporting their important work in preserving Canadian cultural heritage.