@article{ART003366010},
author={Ghebru Bethel},
title={Community-Governed AI for Endangered African Languages and Scripts* -A Multicultural Education Framework for Digital Language Justice-},
journal={Multi-cultural Society and Education Studies},
issn={2586-6206},
year={2026},
volume={23},
pages={1-58},
doi={10.22957/mses.23..202607.1}
TY - JOUR
AU - Ghebru Bethel
TI - Community-Governed AI for Endangered African Languages and Scripts* -A Multicultural Education Framework for Digital Language Justice-
JO - Multi-cultural Society and Education Studies
PY - 2026
VL - 23
IS - null
PB - Institute for Migration and Multicultural Studies
SP - 1
EP - 58
SN - 2586-6206
AB - This article examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can support the preservation and revitalization of endangered African languages and scripts through the lens of multicultural education and digital language justice. Bringing Banks's theory of multicultural education into conversation with May's analysis of linguistic minoritization, together with culturally sustaining pedagogy and community data sovereignty, it develops four analytical dimensions spanning recognition, rights, community agency, and intergenerational learning. It proposes a function-based typology of AI applications, examines Ongota, Yaakunte/Yaaku, Nǀuu, and African Ajami manuscript traditions as illustrative preservation scenarios, and treats African script technology as a cross-cutting infrastructural layer rather than an equivalent case.
The article further develops a seven-phase implementation roadmap and identifies five interrelated risk domains: extractive data governance, exposure of restricted knowledge, AI error and epistemic distortion, infrastructural unsustainability, and unequal institutional power. It argues that AI-supported preservation should be evaluated not only through technical performance or data volume, but through its contributions to linguistic recognition, educational access, community authority, intergenerational learning, and cultural continuity.
KW - artificial intelligence;endangered African languages and scripts; multicultural education;linguistic minoritization;community governance;digital language justice;language revitalization
DO - 10.22957/mses.23..202607.1
ER -
Ghebru Bethel. (2026). Community-Governed AI for Endangered African Languages and Scripts* -A Multicultural Education Framework for Digital Language Justice-. Multi-cultural Society and Education Studies, 23, 1-58.
Ghebru Bethel. 2026, "Community-Governed AI for Endangered African Languages and Scripts* -A Multicultural Education Framework for Digital Language Justice-", Multi-cultural Society and Education Studies, vol.23, pp.1-58. Available from: doi:10.22957/mses.23..202607.1
Ghebru Bethel "Community-Governed AI for Endangered African Languages and Scripts* -A Multicultural Education Framework for Digital Language Justice-" Multi-cultural Society and Education Studies 23 pp.1-58 (2026) : 1.
Ghebru Bethel. Community-Governed AI for Endangered African Languages and Scripts* -A Multicultural Education Framework for Digital Language Justice-. 2026; 23 1-58. Available from: doi:10.22957/mses.23..202607.1
Ghebru Bethel. "Community-Governed AI for Endangered African Languages and Scripts* -A Multicultural Education Framework for Digital Language Justice-" Multi-cultural Society and Education Studies 23(2026) : 1-58.doi: 10.22957/mses.23..202607.1
Ghebru Bethel. Community-Governed AI for Endangered African Languages and Scripts* -A Multicultural Education Framework for Digital Language Justice-. Multi-cultural Society and Education Studies, 23, 1-58. doi: 10.22957/mses.23..202607.1
Ghebru Bethel. Community-Governed AI for Endangered African Languages and Scripts* -A Multicultural Education Framework for Digital Language Justice-. Multi-cultural Society and Education Studies. 2026; 23 1-58. doi: 10.22957/mses.23..202607.1
Ghebru Bethel. Community-Governed AI for Endangered African Languages and Scripts* -A Multicultural Education Framework for Digital Language Justice-. 2026; 23 1-58. Available from: doi:10.22957/mses.23..202607.1
Ghebru Bethel. "Community-Governed AI for Endangered African Languages and Scripts* -A Multicultural Education Framework for Digital Language Justice-" Multi-cultural Society and Education Studies 23(2026) : 1-58.doi: 10.22957/mses.23..202607.1
