Typing Culture with Keyboard: Okinawa - Reviving the Japanese Ryukyu Language through the Art of Digital Input

Explore a 31-minute conference talk from the 38th Chaos Communication Congress (38C3) that examines the development of an input method engine (IME) for the endangered Okinawan language of Japan's Ryukyuan archipelago. Discover how digital typing becomes a form of cultural preservation, as presenter Daichi Shimabukuro demonstrates how the complex Japanese writing system—comprising hiragana, katakana, and kanji—can be adapted to preserve the distinct Okinawan language. Learn how this digital tool allows over 10,000 characters to be input using a standard QWERTY keyboard, addressing the phonological differences of Okinawan and creating a foundation for speakers to express themselves in the digital world. The presentation begins with a global overview of speech transliteration before focusing on the specific challenges and cultural significance of extending Chinese, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) input methods to include Okinawan, offering a model for how endangered languages can be revitalized through thoughtful digital implementation.