Gifty Ayoka, Founder of the NGO Talking Tipps Africa, was among the distinguished speakers at UNESCO’s recently concluded 2nd International Conference on Language Technologies in Paris.
The event, held from February 24 to 26 as part of International Mother Language Day celebrations, brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss advancements in language technology and digital inclusion.
Ms. Ayoka, who also serves as the Community Engagement Lead at the Centre for Digital Language Inclusion (CDL), shared insights on an ongoing project in partnership with the University of Ghana and Talking Tipps Africa.
The initiative focuses on developing Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) models in Ghana to empower individuals with speech impairments through digital assistive technologies.
As part of this initiative, CDL and its partners are leading efforts to collect non-standard speech data in Ghanaian languages. The research builds upon Google’s work on non-standard speech and is supported by UK aid funding.
CDL is also leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop inclusive communication solutions and training individuals and organizations on the use of these innovative tools to ensure accessibility for all.
Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and Its Impact
Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) is revolutionizing communication for individuals with non-standard speech. The widespread use of mobile devices and free-access applications is making ASR more accessible, reducing stigma for people with slurred or difficult-to-understand speech.
CDL is at the forefront of pioneering inclusive ASR solutions to bridge communication barriers and enhance accessibility for individuals with speech impairments worldwide.
About the Conference
The 2nd International Conference on Language Technologies for All (LT4All 2025) was held under the theme: “Advancing Humanism through Language Technologies.” It aimed to explore the role of language technologies in empowering communities and enhancing individual capabilities.
The conference examined the intersection of technology, languages, and their communities from scientific, technical, cultural, linguistic, economic, political, and ethical perspectives. It was organized by ELRA and SIGUL, the ELRA/ISCA Special Interest Group on Under-resourced Languages, in partnership with UNESCO.
Bringing together experts, solution providers, and representatives of linguistic communities, the event facilitated discussions on innovative language solutions and the future of digital language inclusion.