Utilizing AR and VR to Preserve and Promote African Languages

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-521-8_29How to use a DOI?

Keywords

African languages; language preservation; digital technologies

Abstract

This study examines the potential of emerging technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to preserve and promote African languages. These languages are disappearing fast because of globalisation, lack of intergenerational transmission and the dominance of the colonial languages in education and media. While previous efforts have focused on documentation and advocacy, this research critically examines how digital tools can be used in an innovative way to revitalise indigenous languages in the educational and cultural context. The study is based on post-colonial theory and the digital age, which together provide a lens through which to examine the interface between technology, linguistic identity and cultural empowerment. A design for qualitative research was adopted, using a desktop methodology for collecting data from secondary sources. The objective of the study was to capture insights into the current challenges and opportunities in the use of immersion media in language learning and cultural engagement. The findings show that these technologies offer dynamic, interactive and interactive learning experiences that increase vocabulary acquisition, pronunciation, narrative and cultural relevance. However, the study also identifies limitations such as digital literacy barriers, infrastructure gaps and the risk of techno-colonialism when these tools are not locally developed and culturally rooted. This research contributes to the ongoing debate in the fields of education, linguistics and technology studies by promoting a decolonised and inclusive digital approach to revitalising languages. The study ultimately identifies VR as a transformative tool that, when used in an ethical and contextual way, can play a key role in preserving Africa's linguistic heritage and in promoting multilingualism.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Fairhope Ntokozo Gumede
AU  - Vumile Mncibi
AU  - Sithembiso Mthembu
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/29
TI  - Utilizing AR and VR to Preserve and Promote African Languages
BT  - Proceedings of The Focus Conference (TFC 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 518
EP  - 535
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-521-8_29
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-521-8_29
ID  - Gumede2025
ER  -