Polarbibblo opens unique multilingual dictionary
Polarbibblo's comprehensive digital dictionary is now available to everyone. With images, spelling and recorded audio in Swedish, Finnish, Meänkieli and Sami languages, a tool for children and young people is being launched that has no equivalent in Sweden, and which may eventually have international significance. Five Romani languages will soon be added and Yiddish a little later.
Behind the scenes at Polarbibblo, something very unusual has emerged, a bit on the sly. A comprehensive digital dictionary where words:
- appears in text
- illustrated with picture
- and can be listened to via recorded audio.
Now this language treasure is being moved from the internal part of the site to the public page and will be freely available for everyone to read, hear and compare the different languages.
The dictionary contains 900 words in Swedish, Finnish, Meänkieli and Sami languages, and more are being added continuously. Five varieties of Romani languages will also be added soon, an initiative that further strengthens the dictionary's unique position even in an international perspective.
What makes the initiative particularly significant is the combination of several national minority languages from a child's perspective. The digital accessibility means that children can use the treasure chest regardless of where they live and what their circumstances are.
Many of Sweden's national minority languages are endangered or have limited use among younger generations. By offering an easily accessible and educational tool where children can see, hear and use the words in everyday life, Polarbibblo makes a tangible contribution to the revitalization of the languages.
Kirsi Lagerdahl. Photo: Private.
- The dictionary is a very important tool for all educators in the task of making national minorities visible. Languages live when they are used. When children have the opportunity to both see and hear the words, both language skills and identity are strengthened, says Kirsi Lagerdahl, principal at Charlottendals preschool in Luleå, which has sections in Finnish, Meänkieli and Northern Sami.
The dictionary is free and requires no account. It can be used by children, families, libraries, schools, and anyone who wants to discover or reclaim a language.
Explore the dictionary: The dictionary - Polarbibblo
For more information
Ida Johansson Utsi Webmaster at Polarbibblo
072-545 14 30 ida.johansson.utsi@polarbibblo.se
Facts about Polarbibblo
Polarbibblo is a safe and moderated digital site where children can read, listen, write and play word games in Swedish and national minority languages. Polarbibblo is a national digital library service and is used by children and adults working with children's languages throughout the country.
The site is run by the Norrbotten Regional Library in collaboration with the county's public library. Through both content and methodological material, Polarbibblo primarily contributes to strengthening the work of libraries based on the Library Act, with a particular focus on children, languages and national minorities. Mother tongue teachers and educators are examples of other professional groups that can use Polarbibblo's materials and methods.
Polarbibblo's activities can be followed at Polarbibblo.se, Facebook and Social media coordinator.
Text: Linda Kvenås