Teaching Technology to Speak Hmar and Mizo
I’ve realized lately that language in technology is about more than just words—it’s about context. When we use an app, we don’t just read; we navigate. But for Hmar and Mizo speakers, that navigation often feels broken. This is why I’ve decided to focus my project on creating a dedicated UI/UX translation dataset for our languages.
The Context Trap
The biggest hurdle isn’t vocabulary; it’s intent. Take a simple English word like “Next.” * Is it the next person in a line?
- Is it the next page in a book?
- Or is it the “Next” button on a signup form?
In Hmar or Mizo, the “right” word changes depending on that answer. Right now, if you use Google Translate for a Mizo website, it often translates “Home” as “In” (meaning a literal house) instead of something like “Tualbul” (the starting point/main hub). It feels clunky and unnatural, like the technology doesn’t actually “know” us.
Why This Matters
If we want our languages to survive and thrive in the digital age, they have to feel intuitive. If an app feels “wrong” or confusing in Mizo, people will just switch back to English. A dedicated UI/UX dataset would fix this by:
- Ensuring Accuracy: Using terms that fit a screen, not just a dictionary.
- Consistency: Making sure “Settings” or “Submit” means the same thing whether you’re on a banking app or a social media site.
- Better Adoption: Making technology feel like it was actually built for us.
The Struggle of a Native Speaker
Even as a native speaker, I’ll admit this is harder than I thought. I find myself staring at words like “Submit” or “Cancel,” trying to find the version that sounds natural for a button. Some words don’t have a direct 1:1 translation, and others require a bit of creative thinking to fit the digital context.
| Term |
Hmar |
Mizo |
| Next |
Anawk |
Aleh |
| Home |
Tuolbul |
Tualbul |
| Submit |
Thawlut |
Pekluh |
| Settings |
Siemremna |
Siamremna |
Moving Forward
This is the direction I’m committing to. Once I finish the initial draft of the dataset, I’m going to need help. I’ll be seeking verification and feedback from other speakers to make sure these aren’t just “my” words, but words that work for everyone.
This isn’t just a technical task for me; it’s about making our digital future feel a little more like home.