Russia’s Yandex Translator to Add More National Languages
Abaza, Mansi, Nogai, and Chechen to Join the Platform Soon
Russia’s popular online translation service Yandex Translator will soon support four additional national languages — Abaza, Mansi, Nogai, and Chechen, according to Igor Barinov, head of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs.
The inclusion of regional and minority languages in digital services has been an ongoing effort since 2023, coordinated by the House of the Peoples of Russia. So far, 19 regions have joined the initiative, selecting 34 languages for digitization.
Preserving Linguistic Heritage
Among the languages being added are several endangered ones, including Vepsian, Nenets, Khanty, and Chukchi. Over the past two years, the list of Russian languages supported by Yandex Translator has doubled, now featuring Buryat, Ossetian, Tuvan, Komi, and others. The platform has also introduced speech synthesis and recognition for Bashkir and Chuvash, and improved translation quality for Mari and Udmurt.
Experts estimate that more than one-third of Russia’s 155 native languages are currently at risk of extinction. By bringing them into digital ecosystems, developers hope to make these languages accessible to younger generations and anyone interested in the cultural heritage of Russia’s diverse peoples.
Projects like this show how AI and digital technology can play a vital role in preserving linguistic diversity — ensuring that even small and ancient languages continue to be heard in the digital age.
