The Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence Systems, Voice-Based Technologies and the Sociolinguistic Formation of Hausa People Within the Developing Digital Domain

Abstract

The fast proliferation of voice technologies based on artificial intelligence prompted the concern of how indigenous languages will survive and have access and visibility in cyberspace. This paper analyses how the Hausa language fits in the changing digital linguistic space, but more specifically, AI-based voice recognition and sociolinguistic consequences. The research is based on the Language Ecology Theory of Haugen (1972), in which Hausa is conceptualised as an interactive ecosystem that is influenced by sociocultural, technological, and environmental factors. The qualitative research design is chosen based on a critical analysis of current AI voice systems, an analysis of voice-enabled apps, and ideas on the subject from appropriate academic sources and opinion leaders. It has been found out that Hausa is still far under-represented in large AI voice technology systems because of inadequate training datasets, orthographic variation, and dialect. The consequences of this exclusion include technological access, linguistic presence and retention of sociolinguistic identity among Hausa speakers. This paper states that language representation of AI systems is a technical and ethical problem, which is inextricably connected with digital rights and cultural sustainability. It is thus supportive of culturally responsive AI design by creating Hausa voice corpora, working with linguists and developers, and community contributions. In general, the paper makes significant contributions to the existing discussions about linguistic equity and inclusive AI development in multilingual communities.