Our Work
What We Do
We help digitize languages converting them into digital formats. This enables every language, especially Indigenous tongues, to be typed, read, and supported across all digital platforms. This process is vital for preserving culture, identity, and heritage in the digital world.
How We Do It
We collaborate with native speakers and organizations like UNESCO to develop accessible resources. Our toolkits, training, and methodologies make language digitization achievable for everyone, even non-technical users.
Why It Matters
Only 1,000 out of 7,000 languages are online. Without digitization, communities face barriers to communication, education, and opportunity. The ability to use one’s language digitally is a fundamental human right.
Our Vision
A world where every language and culture can thrive
Our Mission
We are technology and language professionals building tools and resources in collaboration with native speakers around the world to promote the growth and sustainability of their languages
Our Story
Translation Commons
Incorporated and gained nonprofit charity status
Online Platform Live
Launched an online platform with over 40 free tools, resources, and courses, giving language industry professionals the ability to connect, create, and collaborate
Professors Groups
Gained support from professors and students from language departments across the globe, forming an energetic network of expertise and passion
UNESCO’s IDIL Partnership
We amplified our impact in creating awareness and celebrating linguistic heritage through 32 hosted events around the world, the Zero to Digital Guideline, and our media campaign
Language Digitization Initiative
We embarked on our ambitious program, striving to safeguard and modernize languages in the digital age. This included the Zero to Digital Series, Keyboards, and Events
UNESCO Partnership
We expanded our collaboration to more UNESCO programs: World Atlas of Languages, Zero to Digital Policy brief, Language Technology Roadmap and more.
Our Team
At the core of our mission lies the strength of people working together!
Our teams are a community of passionate global volunteers, united by the mission to deliver exceptional support and create lasting impact. Operating with autonomy, strategic insight, and a shared commitment, we empower each other to make meaningful change together. We’ve designed a structure that allows individuals to learn, grow, and lead with purpose, truly shaping our initiatives from the ground up.
Learn More →
Programs
Language Digitization →
Providing strategic guidance for our impact programs
Events →
Creating online events in partnership with UNESCO’s IDIL
Zero to Digital →
A series of guidelines documenting how to digitize languages
Projects
Keyboard →
Creating free digital keyboards for communities
Morphologizer →
Creating a morphological tool for Indigenous Languages
Language Navigator →
Creating a resource for data for all languages
Operations
Talent →
Managing our volunteers community and engagement
Localization →
Supporting all of Translation Commons multilingual content
Operations
Ensuring efficiency, productivity, and quality for all our projects
Engineering
Supporting multiple internal tech projects and automations
Data
Providing insights and visualizations for language data
Outreach
Web Development
Developing, updating and maintaining our website
UX Design
Designing our website and sites
Marketing
Creating awareness for all our projects
Social Media
Building a digital community
Our Partners
Translation Commons collaborates with Indigenous and minority communities to bridge the digital divide. We help them digitize their native languages through global conferences, guidelines, hands-on training, practical experience, custom keyboards, and tools.
