Logi Einarsson, the Minister of Culture, Innovation, and Universities, is taking significant steps to address the presence of the Icelandic language in the digital realm. He has reached out to Apple executives to discuss the language’s standing and explore further opportunities to integrate Icelandic into the offerings of major tech companies.
In an article featured in Vísi, Logi reflects on the current state of the Icelandic language, coinciding with the week dedicated to its celebration. He notes, “While the number of speakers may be limited, the position of the Icelandic language remains robust in many respects.”
Logi emphasizes the crucial role of language technology in this development. He envisions a collaborative future where technology can seamlessly understand, speak, read, translate, and write Icelandic. “We are drafting a language technology plan aimed at advancing solutions in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure,” he explains.
This week marks a pivotal moment as Almannarómur begins gathering data on how businesses in Iceland utilize the language. This initiative is intended to provide a realistic overview for Risamáheildin, a project dedicated to fostering Icelandic in the professional sphere.
“A significant part of this endeavor is making Icelandic more accessible through modern technology,” Logi asserts. He points out a glaring gap: many everyday devices still lack Icelandic language menus, a shortfall he directly attributes to tech giants like Apple.
“To ensure the vitality and evolution of our language, it is imperative that cutting-edge technology is available in Icelandic. I have formally requested a meeting with Apple executives to address the current status of Icelandic in the digital landscape and discuss further collaborations with other tech leaders.”
