CanCLID: Cantonese Computational Linguistics Infrastructure

CanCLID: Building Cantonese Language Technology Infrastructure

The Cantonese Computational Linguistics Infrastructure Development Workgroup (CanCLID) represents a collaborative effort to build comprehensive computational resources for the Cantonese language.

Major Contributions

Corpus Development

  • Large-scale Data Collection: Collected and cleaned extensive Guangzhou Cantonese corpus
  • Quality Assurance: Implemented rigorous data cleaning and validation procedures
  • Accessibility: Made corpus resources available for research community

Machine Learning Applications

  • Language Classification: Developed and trained Cantonese/Mandarin classification models
  • Model Optimization: Fine-tuned models for accuracy in distinguishing Sinitic languages
  • Evaluation Metrics: Established benchmarks for Cantonese NLP tasks

Mozilla Common Voice Localization

  • UI Translation: Complete translation of Mozilla Common Voice interface into Cantonese
  • Corpus Curation: Systematic collection and organization of Cantonese speech data
  • Audio Recording: Participation in community recording efforts
  • Quality Validation: Audio review and validation for dataset quality

Input Method Development

  • Algorithm Optimization: Enhanced IME algorithms specifically for Cantonese text input
  • Performance Improvement: Focused on speed and accuracy for real-world usage
  • Integration Testing: Ensured compatibility with existing language technology stack

Technical Expertise

  • Python Development: Extensive use of pandas for data processing and analysis
  • Machine Learning: Experience with classification algorithms and model training
  • Corpus Linguistics: Large-scale text processing and linguistic annotation
  • Community Development: Collaborative open-source project management

Impact & Recognition

CanCLID’s work has significantly advanced the state of Cantonese language technology, providing essential infrastructure for researchers, developers, and the Cantonese-speaking community.

Project Status: Active contributor (2020 - Present)
Organization: Cantonese Computational Linguistics Infrastructure Development Workgroup
Repository: github.com/CanCLID