Book

This book presents a comprehensive framework for the revitalization and digitization of the Kalabari language, an endangered Ijoid language spoken by approximately 600,000 people in Rivers State, Nigeria, through a multimodal approach integrating artificial intelligence and artistic expression. Against the backdrop of a global language extinction crisis, where one language disappears every two weeks and 40% of the world's languages face endangerment, this work addresses the urgent need for innovative, sustainable approaches to indigenous language preservation. The book develops a theoretical and practical framework that combines multimodal learning theory, computational linguistics, and community-based participatory research to create a holistic language revitalization ecosystem. It argues that effective language preservation must transcend traditional documentation approaches to embrace the full spectrum of human communication—linguistic, visual, audio, gestural, and spatial modes—while leveraging the transformative potential of AI technologies.