Voice assistants, AI and other forms of tech don’t communicate in indigenous languages, potentially causing their demise on digital platforms. Waze, the navigation app is used by more than 800 000 South African users and 100 000 daily users, it collects user-generated data on traffic and road conditions from its active communities and immediately analyses that data in order to provide other Wazers with the most optimal route. It also helps users navigate their way on their journey safely, by avoiding dangers on the road.  

Waze uses 98 different options as language preferences including Arabic, Mandarin and even a boy band. But the only local options available are only English (6.6% of population) and Afrikaans (10% of population). We still can’t use it in our mother tongue, isiZulu (20.6% of population). So if you’re Zulu speaking and use Waze, you have to first translate the voice commands before taking action. This need to translate adds another obstacle on the journey.  

We hacked Waze’s ‘personal voice recorder’ feature to record our own set of commands that are suited to local drivers, warning them of the dangers on the road, using real-time data. These re-recorded commands were written using a unique form of isiZulu onomatopoeia to help users identify the dangers by actually hearing the danger inside every word, further reducing the chances of incidents on the roads.  

This unique use of isiZulu highlights just how important an indigenous language can be when needed in potentially dangerous situations. English and Afrikaans language preferences could not deliver in quite the same way to this Zulu speaking audience.   

Shwii by Nissan illustrates that no matter how far technology progresses, the need for  inclusivity and understanding in communication is still vital and potentially lifesaving.