Researchers and developers at the CSIR’s Meraka Institute have released a game in all 11 South African languages. <\/p>\n
The game, called OpenSpell, is a spelling game that can easily be localised into additional languages and is targeted at entry-level school pupils. <\/p>\n
OpenSpell was the inspiration of visiting researcher and linguist, Dr Madelaine Plauché, who has been working in the human language technologies (HLT) research group at the Meraka institute. <\/p>\n
"Although computers are made available in rural areas and small community centres worldwide, it has
become apparent that almost no local language software exists," she says. <\/p>\n
Plauché was responsible for the design and content list and she used the programming skills at the Meraka institute to develop the application. <\/p>\n
The voice recordings for the multilingual game were done with various CSIR staff across the Pretoria campus. <\/p>\n
The game, which is free for download, has two components: a simple, interactive game and an editor that allows a teacher to edit the keyboard and record sounds. "Anyone can use the software to
customise it to a language or dialect," says Plauché. <\/p>\n
Version 1 of OpenSpell can be downloaded from http:\/\/madwiki.icsi.berkeley.edu\/madwiki<\/a><\/p>\n The software is free and open source software and so can be shared without restriction. <\/p>\n