Bridget Chase
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bchasemadethis.bsky.social
Bridget Chase
@bchasemadethis.bsky.social
260 followers 190 following 110 posts
Queer settler linguist working in technology for language revitalization 🌿 (they/them) #langsky

https://bchasemadethis.com/
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bchasemadethis.bsky.social
The Donald Knuth and Charles Bigelow Type Design Incubator invites students—especially from Digitally Disadvantaged Language communities—to explore typography in a supportive online program. Successful Applicants receive 100% Scholarship coverage! Learn more: kbitype.org @stanfordsilicon.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
Beyond excited to announce that I will be teaching two courses this fall, one with the University of British Columbia & one with the University of Victoria

More info on these programs can be found here:
📍UBC FNEL: cis.arts.ubc.ca
📍UVic ILD: tinyurl.com/LING183B

@arts.ubc.ca @uvic.ca #langsky
FNEL_V 180: Introduction to Endangered Language Documentation and Revitalization, First Nations and Endangered Languages Program September 2 - December 20, 2025 Foundational concepts in the critical study of cultural, historical, social, and political factors that impact language loss, retention, and revival. Introducing strategies and practical methodologies for collaborative, interdisciplinary, community-based documentation and revitalization projects for First Nations and Indigenous languages. LING 183B: Indigenous Language Documentation Capstone Designing and conducting a project to support community language revitalization efforts by creating either new language documentation, or a new language resource based on existing documentation. Implements throughout: strategies for community involvement; project planning; protocols; consideration of ethical and intellectual property issues. Indigenous Language Documentation Micro-Certificate Program November 19, 2025 – February 25, 2026
August 18, 2025 at 9:42 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
First off this morning, blessed to hear Peter-Lucas Jones (Te Aupōuri, Ngāi Takoto, Ngāti Kahu) speak about the amazing work of Te Hiku Media.

“We don’t just want to be the users of technology, we want to be the creators of it too.“

#WAVES2025 #langsky
Photo of Peter-Lucas Jones on stage speaking at WAVES 2025
August 13, 2025 at 2:01 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
I’ll be attending as many talks and presentations as I can at #WAVES2025 over the next couple of days, and I’ll use this thread 🧵 to share some of the insights from the great speakers and knowledge keepers here. Today, the theme is #Langauge & #Technology! 💻💬

#langsky
Graphic promoting WAVES 2025, Global Indigenous Languages Summit in Ottawa Canada
August 13, 2025 at 1:55 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
Thrilled to be at WAVES 2025, the Global Indigenous Languages Summit by @ocil-ila.bsky.social to share the work of the Indigenous North American Type project @typotheque.com

Come visit our booth — the exhibit hall floor 3 & come to our collab session at 2 PM today in room 206! #WAVES2025 #langsky
August 13, 2025 at 1:46 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
Delighted to guest lecture this afternoon in @uvic.ca's IED 199: Special Studies in Indigenous Education: Technology for SENĆOŦEN Learning. I shared my experiences and advice around working in #language #technology, and it was so fun to speak in a course taught by my dear friend+colleague Ben Chung.
Slide that says "Working in language revitalization technology - careers within the field and practical advice for job hunting" by Bridget Chase, IED 99: Special Studies in Indigenous Education: Technology for SENĆOŦEN Learning Slide that says: Pursuing an Indigenous language technology role in the private sector? Here are some starting questions: What sorts of ethical considerations are you taking into account when doing this work? (If the answer is vague or generic, 🚩🚩🚩). How is the community involved? How much of the work is community-directed, and how is that direction being shared with the team? What are the data sovereignty practices in place? Is there AI/LLM/ML work happening here? What is the scope of this work, and how will Indigenous language rights be protected? If you’re building a piece of technology (an app, website, etc.) what are the long term maintenance plans? Who owns the product, who updates it? Who owns the code?
June 12, 2025 at 9:16 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
Thrilled to be presenting this morning with my fantastic colleague Leo Vicenti at Multilingüe 2025, an event about the revitalization of the Indigenous languages ​​of the Americas through #typography, #research, and #technology.

#multilingue2025 #langsky
May 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
Anna, Amanda and I collaborated with language community members, #linguists & scholars on this resource. If you're a #journalist #reporter, #editor or #writer who may engage with topics of Indigenous / minoritized languages, #language endangerment or language revitalization, please use + share this!
We warmly invite journalists and editors to use this resource, and share it with their colleagues. We hope it can help you tell these important stories, and "say it with respect". Find the guide at (a QR code)! (Note for alt text readers, the link is also embedded into the first post in this thread)
May 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
In particular, working in #language #technology, I cringe seeing article after article claiming that some new fancy app or AI is "saving a dying language". These sorts of stories perpetrate false narratives. We wanted to develop a resource to help tell these stories with respect. #langsky #langtech
This guide has three main sections centered around using respectful language when telling stories about language-related topics: red flags, disrespectful; yellow flags, use with caution; green flags, respectful. Each flag has an explanation and - where appropriate - a suggested alternative.
May 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
Thrilled to launch a #journalism resource written by myself, @nabelew.bsky.social & Amanda Holmes:
tinyurl.com/languagejour...

We appreciate the growing attention the #media is giving to #language endangerment & revitalization, but issues are often covered in ways cause unintentional harm. How? 🗞️
Reporting on language endangerment often falls into deficit narratives, like: "This ancient, dying language with only 5 speakers needs saving." This kind of framing spreads false assumptions while obscuring the roots of the problem. How does this resource help?
May 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
I don’t usually share non-language-related news stories on here, but I can’t help myself with this one. There was LITERALLY an entire episode of Parks and Rec about this!
Screen captures with captions of a Parks and Rec episode. The local political (and dentist who wants to make more money off of Pawnee citizens) says: “Councilwoman Knope wants to put fluoride, which is a chemical, into your drinking water. You know what else is a chemical? Strychnine and cyanide.” The news anchor says: “And dirt, and rust, and even broken glass.” And the politician replies: “Exactly. You definitely understand what chemicals are, Perd.”
March 28, 2025 at 3:02 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
I enjoyed presenting to technology stakeholders today at #ICANN82: "Business Experiences in Updating Systems for the Evolving TLD Landscape"

Ensuring accurate & predictable access to digital spaces for all languages, across all devices, is a cornerstone of language justice. #langsky @typotheque.com
Screenshot of a slide that says "What are the core types of issues communities face?" with three boxes underneath that say: 1. Access to full Unicode representation of one's orthography, 2. Access to functional and thoughtfully designed keyboards, and 3. Access to typefaces that accurately and respectfully render orthographies A photo of Bridget Chase and others sitting on a panel at ICANN 82
March 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
Excited to be presenting about digital access for Indigenous languages at #ICANN82 on behalf of @typotheque.com, supporting a #multilingual internet.

ICANN “recognizes the need for a Universal Acceptance ready world, where all valid names work regardless of language, length and script.”

#langsky
Picture of a presenter at the opening ceremony of ICANN 82, saying: “The board thanks the entire ICANN community for the effort to promote the implementation of a multilingual Internet. Your involvement recognizes the need for a UA (Universal Acceptance) ready world where all a valid names works, regardless of language, length and script.” Graphic promotional advertisement for panel presentation: “Promoting Consumer Choice: Business Experiences in Updating Systems for the Evolving TLD Landscape”.
March 10, 2025 at 6:22 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
A great piece on computer-assisted #language learning courses:

"Decisions around #orthography, dialectal variation, and terminology in designing an #Indigenous language course, particularly one that is delivered online ... must be treated with a great deal of care"

tinyurl.com/2urkafrf #langsky 💻💬
Screenshot of the first page of the article: "Orthography Choice in Indigenous Language CALL Courses", authors are: Jackie Dormer University of Victoria, Kari A. B. Chew Independent Scholar, Colette Child Hase' Language Revitalization Society, Sara Child Hase' Language Revitalization Society/North Island College, Lokosh (Joshua D. Hinson) Chickasaw Nation, Juliet Morgan Chickasaw Nation, Olivia N. Sammons Carleton University, Heather Souter Prairies to Woodlands Indigenous Language Revitalization Circle /University of Winnipeg. Abstract: For many Indigenous Nations and organizations, computer-assisted language learning (CALL) courses have become an effective means to support Indigenous language revitalization and reclamation (ILR) efforts. Engaging a methodology of storywork and highlighting relationships between relevant fields of ILR, CALL, and applied linguistics, this article focuses on orthography choice and use in Indigenous language CALL courses. As contributors to three North American Indigenous language courses⁠—Chikashshanompa' (Chickasaw) on Rosetta Stone, Kwak̓wala on 7000 Languages, and Southern Michif for Beginners on 7000 Languages, we offer reflections on community-led processes which addressed tensions and challenges in representing written language in CALL courses. Through reflections, we illuminate the complexity of orthography choice and use in Indigenous language CALL courses and share strategies with others creating their own Indigenous language courses.
March 3, 2025 at 6:43 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
If you are interested in translating the book entirely into your language or using the text-free illustrations as a basis for a similar concept, please reach out. My intention is for this to be as useful a resource as possible, for as many people and languages as possible! 📖 11/11 #langsky
February 21, 2025 at 10:33 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
I also worked with a digital calligrapher to hand-draw and then hide dozens of different characters/glyphs throughout the pages. Language is all around us, and the connection between language and land is undeniable. 📖 8/11

languagestarbook.com/characters #langsky
February 21, 2025 at 10:33 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
I worked with a fantastic artist from Indonesia to create the illustrations for this — we wanted the art to feel as accessible and relevant to as many different cultures and locations as possible. Our little bear friend holds a special place in my heart! 🐻 📖 7/11
February 21, 2025 at 10:33 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
This is where "You Are a Language Star" comes in. The book is in English but has blanks for words in your language. No matter what word you insert, the rhyme scheme works! For example:

Out here on the land
I see a big, tall tree
In [LANGUAGE NAME], tree is [?]
Now count the fruit you see!

6/11
This page in the book shows how to fill in the blanks. There are three types of speech bubbles that you will see throughout the book. A speech bubble with a star means to insert your language name. A speech bubble with ENG means to insert a word in English. And a speech bubble with a question mark means to insert a word in your language. For example, In [LANGUAGE NAME], the colour [ENG] is [?] = In Kwak̓wala, the colour blue is dzasa. Page of Bear pointing at tree that says "Out here on the land, I see a big tall tree..." Page of Bear pointing at tree, with the text "In [LANGUAGE NAME], "tree" is [INSERT WORD]. Now count the fruit you see!"
February 21, 2025 at 10:33 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
I had the idea to write a 'fill in the blanks' style kid's book to support with early-stage language learning back in 2021. In fact, I still have the Notes app entry on my phone from when I woke up at 1:52 AM with the concept and jotted it down before going back to sleep! 💤 📖 3/11
A Notes app screenshot from March 9, 2021 at 1:52 AM that says "Children's book that is a fill in the blank to teach children words in their own language"
February 21, 2025 at 10:33 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
Happy #MotherLanguageDay, a celebration of linguistic diversity championed by @unesco.org! Since today's a fun day to launch a new #language project:

languagestarbook.com

"You Are a Language Star" is a free children's book where you can fill in the blanks with words in any language 📖 1/11 #langsky
The cover of "You Are a Language Star", which shows a bear looking through a telescope into a sky full of stars that have different letters / alphabet characters in them. The subtitle says "A 'fill in the blanks' book about YOUR language", "Written by Bridget Chase"
February 21, 2025 at 10:33 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
I, like many others I know, have been feeling a very heavy weight of sadness and fear from the constant onslaught of The Horrors. Here are some good things from the last month — we have to keep sharing the good. Trans joy is one powerful form of resistance. 💛
Me and Cider the dog, enjoying some delicious breakfast chilaquiles and tater tots at an outdoor patio My leg kicking up in the air in my very queer gym — I love working out in a space that celebrates my community Celebratory beers with colleagues and friends after a successful conference day Me and my teammates/buddies after our first successful set of games in the local queer pickleball league
January 30, 2025 at 7:02 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
I don’t have clear answers to these questions (sorry!) but there are organizations with huge amounts of capital power who have the authority to resolve — at the very least — issues of technical access. Money isn’t the root of happiness, but there are many problems that can be resolved by it. 👀 9/10
Microsoft’s net worth is 3.112 trillion dollars Apple’s net worth is 3.46 trillion dollars Alphabet (i.e Google) has a net worth of 2.40 trillion dollars
January 19, 2025 at 11:03 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
“Linguistic diversity is not just a technical challenge to be solved; it is a cultural treasure to be cherished” — Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information #FaceInterface #langsky
Image from the Face / Interface conference of Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information
January 17, 2025 at 10:58 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
Deadline for HIGA is tomorrow (Jan 10)! HIGA brings together young minority language speakers, promoting linguistic diversity & activism at the University of the Basque Country in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Connect with youth worldwide + train in #language revitalization.

ℹ️: www.higatopaketa.eus/en #langsky
Info graphic: HIGA! Welcome to HIGA! Meeting of young speakers of minoritized languages. Last day to register is January 10, 2025. Register now!
January 9, 2025 at 7:39 PM
bchasemadethis.bsky.social
What is it about the new year that always compels me to buy domain names for the projects that have been swirling around in my head?! Should I do it? No. Will I do it? Only time will tell. 👀

I guess it's as @sid.st once said (over on Twitter):
Tweet that says: "Buying a domain is like getting a gym membership, you hope the guilt of spending money will make you actually work on the project, but it doesn't"
January 9, 2025 at 6:49 PM