MIT Program Aims to Preserve Keres Language

William Pacheco, a member of the Santo Domingo Pueblo, is pursuing a master’s degree at MIT to help preserve the Keres language. Keres, spoken by fewer than 10,000 people in central New Mexico, is an endangered language isolate with unique complexities. Pacheco is enrolled in the MIT Indigenous Languages Initiative, a program designed to equip native speakers with linguistic tools for language preservation.

The program emphasizes experiential learning, recognizing that Keres is best learned through community use, not traditional classroom methods. Pacheco noted that each of the seven villages speaking Keres has its own dialect, and English usage among younger generations is increasing. He aims to develop linguistic tools to better understand Keres’ structure and improve its teaching, while respecting the Pueblo’s preference for oral tradition.

Pacheco previously taught Keres at the Santa Fe Indian School and found existing language learning models inadequate. He is now exploring innovative teaching methods, including using Keres to program robots, and hopes to create a network of community linguists dedicated to preserving the language.