Building a Kifuliiru Dictionary: A Journey in Language Preservation

The journey of creating a digital platform for the Kifuliiru language has been both challenging and rewarding. As a software developer and cultural preservationist, I've had to balance technical requirements with cultural sensitivity and community needs.

The Challenge

Preserving a language digitally involves more than just creating a database of words. It requires capturing the nuances, context, and cultural significance that give each word its meaning. The Kifuliiru language, rich in oral tradition and cultural context, presented unique challenges in digital preservation.

Technical Implementation

We chose a modern tech stack including Next.js, TypeScript, and Supabase to build a platform that's both robust and scalable. The architecture needed to support:

• Multiple word variations and dialects
• Audio recordings for proper pronunciation
• Cultural context and usage examples
• Community contributions and reviews

Community Involvement

A crucial aspect of this project has been involving the Bafuliiru community at every step. We've established a network of language experts, elders, and community members who contribute their knowledge and validate entries.

Looking Forward

This is just the beginning of our journey. We're continuing to expand the dictionary's features and content, always guided by our mission to preserve and promote the Kifuliiru language for future generations.