Google Translate is another example of AI, Algorithms and Machine Learning discriminating against minorities, while misrepresenting the Maori language and customs .

Google Translate interprets te reo Maori more accurately as it learns and is supporting the revival of te reo Māori. While it had the expertise of Dr Te Taka Keegan in its development, it still, as with other digital technologies reflects the fact that it is middle class, middle aged white men (Stale, Pale and Male) that dominate the industry, resulting in Google Translate of Māori language is chauvinistic and has no regard for LGBTQ+.

In the Māori language the word ‘ia’ is gender neutral and is used for any person of any gender whether majority gender or LGBTQ+. For further information I recommend reading Dr Elizabeth Kerekere Thesis “Part of The Whānau: The Emergence of Takatāpui Identity He Whāriki Takatāpui”

Māori traditional knowledge/epistemologies recognise all genders and did so before the western world acknowledged the term and that people were not binary gender based.

Below are a number of screen shots testing how Google Translate uses the gender neutral Māori word “ia” and decides, based on the scenario if it is a male or a female. Noting the chauvinistic system assigns a female translation to tasks such as cooking and sewing, emotions such as crying and being promiscuous. Male is assigned to most professions, trades, sports, leadership roles, humor etc. In addition to this sexist and chauvinistic translations are the fact that the LGBTQ+ communities are not considered, further reinforcing that AI, Algorithms and Machine Learning do discriminate against minority groups. In this instance, those technologies are discriminating against minority genders using the the Māori language as a vehicle to push such diatribe. The results appear to reflect a chauvinistic view that men work and have authority, while women less so and are more likely to do domestic chores.

My testing to get these results involved a number of different tenses, networks and IP addresses, but still with the same result.

Raising awareness using ia in pronoun email signatures

Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission promote the use of pronouns in email signatures as a part of their commitment to Diversity and Inclusion.

If we all add ‘ia’ to our pronoun email signature, it could be seen as a passive way to raise awareness of this discrimination.

 

Solution

If consultation with out the community is not feasible or possible; I would suggest that it would appear that the best solution to this would be to translate the gender neutral Māori word “ia” into English as (she/he/they). By not doing so is allowing te reo Māori to continue to allow the English language and culture to continue the linguistic imperialism of the Māori language.

 

Screen Shots

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Reference

Featured image sourced from NZ Parliament, who credit Office of the Clerk. Permission was not sought.