The Language Technology department within SIL Global supports language development worldwide by providing specialized software, fonts, and technical standards that enable communities to use their languages effectively in digital environments.

SIL’s Language Technology team supports language development by providing specialized software and fonts. Developing standards allows smooth integration between software products SIL produces. This includes submitting proposals to the Unicode character encoding standard when new characters are needed for local languages, and serving on other international standards committees.

Language Software Development

The Language Software Development staff work with users to improve or create software that supports language development activities. These activities include language and culture research, literacy materials development, and dictionary creation.

In response to user feedback, staff may design new software applications, such as SayMore for audio and video language documentation, or Bloom for creating literacy materials. They also work on feature enhancements for existing applications or recommend existing software solutions to meet users’ specific needs.

Multilingual Support: Most of the software applications provide multiple language interfaces. For example, FieldWorks Language Explorer (FLEx) provides interfaces in French, Chinese, Spanish, and 8 other languages, making these tools accessible to users worldwide.

Software Products

The Language Technology department has developed and maintains numerous software applications that serve different aspects of language work:

  • FieldWorks Language Explorer (FLEx): Comprehensive language documentation and analysis
  • SayMore: Audio and video language documentation tool
  • Bloom: Book creation software for literacy materials
  • PrimerPrep: Literacy primer preparation and analysis
  • Scripture Forge: Collaborative Bible translation tools
  • WeSay: Dictionary building application
  • Adapt It: Translation adaptation software

These applications are designed to work together when possible, sharing data formats and providing integrated workflows for language development projects.

Writing Systems Technology

The Writing Systems Technology team (WSTech), formerly known as NRSI (Non-Roman Script Initiative), is exclusively dedicated to meeting complex script needs so language communities can use their preferred writing system on their computers, tablets, and mobile devices.

The team conducts research, provides technical assistance, and develops solutions to support language development in communities that use complex writing systems. They also provide support for extended Roman and Cyrillic scripts, ensuring comprehensive coverage for diverse linguistic needs.

Font Development

WSTech designs fonts that specifically support language development activities.

  • Andika font family is specially designed for literacy programs, with clear, simple letterforms that help beginning readers distinguish between similar characters.
  • Gentium: SIL’s award-winning “Typeface for the Nations”.
  • Awami Nastaliq: Arabic script font for writing systems using the Nastaliq style – including Urdu.

Keyboard Solutions

The team develops keyboards and input methods that enable users to type in their local languages on any device. These keyboard solutions are designed to work seamlessly across different operating systems and applications.

ScriptSource

WSTech also promotes worldwide collaboration through ScriptSource, a dynamic, collaborative reference to the writing systems of the world. This comprehensive database provides detailed information on scripts, characters, and languages, as well as documentation of the remaining needs for supporting them in computing environments.

Standards

A crucial aspect of the Language Technology department’s work involves developing and maintaining standards that ensure compatibility and integration between different software products and systems.

Unicode Contributions: The team regularly submits proposals to the Unicode Consortium when new characters are needed for local languages. This work ensures that lesser-known languages can be properly represented in digital text across all computing platforms.

Staff members serve on various international standards committees, contributing expertise in multilingual computing and helping to shape global standards that benefit language communities worldwide.

Open Source Philosophy

The department operates on open source principles, making most software freely available and encouraging community contributions. This approach ensures that language development tools remain accessible to communities worldwide, regardless of their economic circumstances.

The team relies on open tools and processes to develop and support over 50 linguistic and translation products, fostering collaboration with developers, linguists, and language communities globally.

For more information about SIL’s language technology products, visit Software for Language Development to find and download SIL’s language software, fonts, and font-related technologies.

About SIL Global

SIL Global (previously SIL International) is a global, faith-based nonprofit that works with local communities around the world to develop language solutions that expand possibilities for a better life.

As of October 2021, we are involved in approximately 1,633 active language projects in 98 countries. These projects impact more than 855+ million people within 1,347 local communities. SIL’s work brings together more than 4,200 staff from 84 countries who work alongside thousands more local partners and community volunteers worldwide. Our services are available without regard to religious belief, political ideology, gender, race or ethnic background.

Our Vision

We long to see people flourishing in community using the languages they value most.

Our Mission

Inspired by God’s love, we advocate, build capacity, and work with local communities to apply language expertise that advances meaningful development, education, and engagement with Scripture.

Contact Us

If you have a bug report, feature suggestion, need help using our software, or would like to help develop it please contact us.