Libraries and Coding: Reclaiming indigenous systems of conveying knowledge
Two stories caught my eye recently that highlight efforts to establish decolonized communication systems.
One is an effort to write a programming language in Hawaiian:
This one is interesting because it’s not simply a transliteration: the team is identifying analogies and metaphors that are more meaningful in Hawaii to replace typical programming commands.
In this case, for the “if else” statement, Noe and her team decided to use the Hawaiian word for river to describe “if” — in that in a flowing river, there are paths the water takes to get to different areas.
The other is a British Columbian library’s new classification system that reflects indigenous ways of organizing information:
In contrast to the previous example, what they’re doing is not language-dependent—speakers of English can appreciate the organizational structure and gain a better understanding of indigenous thinking.
For Indigenous visitors, it’s a safe space. For non-Indigenous folks, Parent said, it’s a welcoming learning experience.
One huge takeaway—a conceptual framework that conveys a strong sense of a culture’s model can be established independent of, or enhanced by, language.
How can this idea be executed in the interaction design space? What needs to be considered?
