Beyond the Data: Language as Living Identity in a Digital Age

A seTswana proofreader reflects on preserving language as identity through African Next Voices and why authentic speech data matters.

The power of preserving culture through technology.

The value of language extends far beyond communication, and that is something that Way With Words has always recognised. Language creates a bridge between culture, community, and identity, even in a digital age. One of our seTswana proofreaders, Brenden Letsatsi, reflects on language as a living identity.

More Than Just a Project

For Brenden, our African Next Voices (ANV) project became far more meaningful than a technical task requiring accuracy and resilience. The experience revealed a powerful truth: language is not just data, but a living expression of identity.

“Being a part of the ANV project made me feel connected to the languages I grew up hearing every day.”

Through seTswana proofreading, he found himself reconnecting with the linguistic diversity that shaped his everyday life, including Sepedi, seSotho, and English.

Brenden describes the audios as “real and relatable,” finding life in the voices, emotions, and dialects that mirror the rhythms of real conversations, real communities, and real cultural expression. This realisation became the foundation of his experience through ANV: language is deeply tied to identity and cultural expression, and preserving it truly matters.

Growth That Goes Beyond Skill

Motivated by a sense of purpose in language preservation, Brenden pushed through even the most technical aspects of the work. While the project helped sharpen listening and transcription skills, it also became a journey of personal growth.

“There were moments where I would finish a difficult clip and I could actually feel myself improving.”

These small but meaningful milestones gradually built both confidence and motivation.

The work, however, was not without its challenges. Audio clips often included code-switching, background noise, and subtle differences in accent, all of which demanded intense focus and patience.

“Sometimes I had to replay the same section several times just to capture every word accurately.”

Still, these challenges became part of the reward. Each carefully transcribed clip contributed to a larger goal: accurately representing real voices and lived experiences.

Language Beyond Words

Through ANV, Brenden developed a deeper understanding of what language truly represents.

“African languages are more than communication tools. They carry history, wisdom, and unique worldviews.”

This highlights an important reality in today’s digital landscape. As technology evolves, there is a risk that languages may be simplified or stripped of their richness to make them easier for systems to process. However, language is far more than vocabulary. It embodies tone, rhythm, idioms, and cultural nuance that extend beyond what technology can easily interpret.

“Authentic voices convey emotion, personality, and context that written words alone cannot capture.”

By working with real speech, recorded by real people, we help ensure that technologies can properly reflect how people actually communicate, and not a simplified version of it.

A Responsibility to Preserve Identity

With this understanding, Brenden feels a strong sense of responsibility to seTswana and its culture.

“It is a way of giving back to my community.”

Each recording becomes part of a broader effort to ensure that linguistic heritage remains visible, valued, protected, and accessible in modern technology. Language, in this sense, is inseparable from identity. It carries stories, traditions, and ways of seeing the world. Preserving it means preserving the people and cultures it represents.

Looking Ahead

When asked about the future of seTswana in a digital space, Brenden shared a vision that fully embraces technological diversity.

“I hope to see Setswana fully integrated into digital platforms, AI tools, and educational resources.”

He explained that beyond inclusion, the goal is authenticity. True representation of seTswana means recognising the richness of the language and celebrating its beauty through idioms, storytelling traditions, and cultural depth.

It is clear that the project held deeper meaning for Brenden than the data itself. It reflects an ongoing commitment to ensuring that language remains a living, evolving expression of identity - one that continues to be heard, understood, and valued in a digital world. It is no surprise that he would participate again and recommend a similar project to others in the future.

Reflections

Language preservation in the digital age is about more than identifying and sharing a language. It is about protecting language as a living identity. The focus for Way With Words through projects like these is on celebrating cultural richness and ensuring that languages are represented as they are truly lived. Every recording, every phrase, and every voice contributes to a future where people can engage with technology in their own language: authentically, confidently, and with a deep sense of pride.

We are deeply grateful to Brenden Letsatsi for lending his voice to African Next Voices and for sharing his reflections with us.

You can connect with Brenden here:

By working together, we are not only building datasets - we are building belonging. This is where speech meets purpose.