| Summary: | Currently, many languages and dialects are at a higher risk of extinction than at any other time in human history. Their loss would represent a catastrophic reduction in the diversity of our cultural heritage. Today, the dominant methods and tools for preserving linguistic diversity rely heavily on written, aural, and visual documentation, which preserves knowledge of the language for posterity but often fails to maintain it as a living tradition. This research proposes and tests an extension to such methods and tools through employing new media technologies. The research first surveyed representatives of national minorities of the Republic of Karelia and Finland, including Karelians and Vepsians, on their language needs and local language-use trends. On the basis of the results, a multimedia language platform online, Oma Media, was created, which allowed users to read daily news in their Karelian national languages, gain information on current events and also develop their language skills via the platform’s free e-learning tools. Subsequently, the research adopted a designerly approach to the traditional task of documenting endangered languages. One of the disadvantages facing traditional methods is the failure to meet the needs of most language users. Bringing user-centered design to the field of linguistic preservation offers perspectives into understanding user requirements and translating those insights into practical implementation in preservation design. The main finding from the research was the discovery that using traditional methods without the active involvement in the process of language preservation of native speakers, especially among the younger generation, is not enough for the high-quality preservation of endangered languages and dialects. As an alternative approach, co-creating and co-designing with language users and a wide application of new media technologies emphasise the needs and cultural practices to provide a solid foundation for not only preserving knowledge of the language but also ...
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