Language and writing record the history and life of humanity. Currently, there are approximately 7000 languages in use worldwide. With the arrival of digital intelligence technology, some languages and scripts are gradually marginalized and on the brink of extinction. Meanwhile, digital technology also provides new means for protecting them. Recently, Professor Bai Lesang from the French National Institute of Oriental Languages and Cultures was interviewed by China News Service's "Dongxiwen" on topics such as how to use digital technology to protect endangered languages. On April 21, 2025, the special exhibition "Tracing the Origin of Oracle Bones and National Style Elegance" opened at the Chinese Character Museum in Anyang, Henan. The picture shows an exhibit of bronze group carvings of oracle bone inscriptions. Reporter: Many texts have been passed down for thousands of years, why are they gradually becoming endangered? Bai Lesang: We should recognize that every language and script has its irreplaceable value, and every language and script is a treasure of humanity. There is currently no unified standard for endangered writing, and compared to language, writing is easier to define endangered standards. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are important ways to inherit language and writing. There are many factors that contribute to the endangerment of language and writing, such as the scope of use and the "listening, speaking, reading, and writing" abilities of the target audience. Most language and writing are endangered because no one is using them anymore. With the rise of electronic products, "listening, speaking, reading, and writing" has gradually developed into "listening, speaking, reading, and typing". Students using keyboards instead of handwriting may reduce the weight of their backpacks and improve efficiency, but it may also lead to forgetting words when picking up the pen. I think a survey should be conducted on handwriting ability to master everyone's handwriting ability. In the basic education stage, children should be encouraged to persist in writing dictation training. Compared to alphabetical characters, the structure of Chinese characters is more complex and unique. Currently, most young people in China use the Chinese Pinyin input method to convert Pinyin into text and input it into electronic products. As a result, there is a phenomenon of weakened handwriting ability, such as forgetting characters when picking up a pen. Alphabet text does not have this situation, whether handwritten or using input methods, it is the same letter, so you will not forget what it looks like. The scope of use of text also affects its inheritance. For example, the Dongba script used by the Naxi people in the border areas of Yunnan, Sichuan, and Tibet in southwestern China is known as the "last living pictographic script in the world", with a total of about 1400 single characters. At present, there are fewer and fewer Naxi people who can recognize and use these Dongba scripts. They use Dongba scripts for simple note taking, bookkeeping, letter writing, and couplet writing, and also use Dongba scripts as phonetic symbols for learning Chinese. On June 30, 2024, a travel inspection team consisting of Switzerland, Austria, and Spain visited Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, China. The picture shows European travel business writing in Dongba script. Reporter Huang Xinghong from China News Service: Why did you propose the idea of deeply developing China's endangered language and writing resources? Bai Lesang: I come from the French National Institute of Oriental Languages and Cultures and have studied Chinese in China. In 2017, during my exchange trip to China, I proposed a collaboration between Beijing Language and Culture University, the French National Institute of Oriental Languages and Cultures, and the University of Geneva in Switzerland to deeply develop Dongba language resources and promote Dongba language to the world through MOOCs. After understanding the endangered status of Dongba script, our team creatively created a large-scale online open course to allow enthusiasts from all over the world to learn about Dongba script and Naxi culture, achieving the goal of protecting this precious language and cultural heritage. Our previous research has found that in order to scientifically and effectively protect endangered language and writing resources such as Dongba script, it is necessary to systematically carry out resource recording, preservation, development, utilization, and research. Modern information technology, especially artificial intelligence technology, should be fully utilized, and attention should be paid to the organic combination of people-oriented and technological innovation. Dongba Enlightenment MOOC "is a convenient online course that covers learners from all over the world through teaching in four languages: Chinese, English, French, and German. After its official launch in France in 2023, it will be fully rolled out, with over 2000 learners from 80 countries and regions registering for the first phase of learning. I actually don't understand Naxi language, and this idea is entirely based on my experience in Chinese education and teaching, as well as my strong interest in Chinese characters. MOOCs, which are popular, are one of the best forms of spreading language and writing. We have previously conducted Chinese MOOCs and achieved good dissemination results, but compared to the international language and script of Chinese, Dongba language is still too niche. After a period of exploration, we found that MOOCs can also effectively alleviate the endangered situation of Dongba script. Therefore, we first created 300 Dongba scripts related to Naxi culture. On March 9, 2025, Lijiang, Yunnan was celebrating the traditional Naxi festival of San Duo Festival. The inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, He Jun, and the people living in Lijiang carried out Dongba cultural exchange activities. Reporter Gu Yihang from China News Service: What is the significance of the MOOC model for the protection of human language and cultural heritage? Bai Lesang: MOOCs themselves have the characteristics and importance of contemporary education. In 2016, our team developed and launched a Chinese enlightenment MOOC, with all seven week courses in the first year being free and supported by the technical department of the French National Institute of Oriental Languages and Cultures. After going online, I found that students from 104 countries and regions had registered for it. From this, I truly understood that the first letter "M" in MOOCs means "massive". In recent years, I have been paying attention to Manchu language. The population of Manchu among China's ethnic minorities is quite large, and I have learned that there are very few people who can speak Manchu nowadays. Research data shows that a language disappears approximately every two weeks. If tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people are learning and using an endangered language, it may alleviate the current endangered situation of this language. For example, the number of people learning and registering for MOOCs sometimes exceeds the original number of users of an endangered language or script. I am confident that MOOCs can play a rescue role in maintaining endangered languages and scripts. (Xinhua News Agency) Interviewee Profile: Jo l Bellassen is a well-known French sinologist and expert in Chinese language education. He is a professor at the Oriental Language and Culture University in Paris, the first Chinese language inspector of the French Ministry of Education, the founder and first president of the French Chinese Language Teachers Association, and has served as the vice president of the World Chinese Language Teaching Association and the president of the European Chinese Language Teaching Association. Published over 40 books and textbooks, including "Research on Chinese Language Education in France," "Cross Cultural Chinese Language Education," "Snowball Learning Chinese," and "Enlightenment of Chinese Language and Writing," and published more than 100 academic articles. In 2003, it was awarded the "Chinese Language and Culture Friendship Award" by the Chinese government.