Multilingualism and Digital Literacy for Enhancing Speech Perception and Language Processing

Abstract

Multilingualism and digital literacy are increasingly recognized as pivotal elements in advancing speech perception and language processing, particularly in linguistically diverse nations like India. This paper examines the intersection of regional languages, dialects, and digital technologies to enhance linguistic competencies in both educational and computational domains. Prior studies reveal phonetic proximities between Hindi and Urdu, the impact of code-mixed languages like Hinglish, and the gaps in speech perception assessments for multilingual children. Additionally, developments in NLP, such as Named Entity Recognition and sentiment analysis for code-mixed content, highlight the technological strides and challenges in processing multilingual data. Cultural media like Bollywood and private radio also influence linguistic practices, further shaping language processing needs. Despite these advancements, significant gaps remain in applying these insights to educational reforms and digital tools development. This paper proposes a multidimensional strategy that integrates digital literacy with multilingual pedagogy and advanced NLP technologies to support inclusive education and robust language processing systems.