Ethnologue is an academic reference of all the known languages in the world. It was made by our organization, SIL, in 1951, and has since become the most cited linguistic work in the world. In 2015, Ethnologue.com was so popular that it cost nearly $1 million per year to operate as a free website. With funding for non-Bible translation projects dropping, SIL explored how to turn this massive cost into a funding stream. The experiment included limiting what information was available for free, so that more people would need to subscribe to get access. In an interview with Science magazine, our editor-in-chief Gary Simons reflects on the losses the resulting paywall has created.

Our task with this redesign was to add meaningful data to the free version so that both free and paid users can have satisfying experiences, learn what issues face minority language communities, and realize a meaningful impact for them. 

We kicked off the design process with a “design sprint”, a one-week workshop that involves identifying a challenge, creating a rough prototype, and testing that prototype. You can interact with the prototype we made. In the tests, people responded positively to the prototype, and also gave us helpful data to make improvements.

Inspiration and Motivation

Throughout this project, I was deeply inspired by the richness of linguistic diversity and the passion of the Ethnologue community. I firmly believe that language information should be freely available to nurture understanding and curiosity about the languages that shape our world.

Increasing Access

I focused on ensuring a high level of accessibility for all users. By incorporating proven accessibility practices and adhering to web standards, I aimed to create a platform that is welcoming, user-friendly, and as inclusive as I could make it in the time we had.

We also expanded the offering of free content on Ethnologue.com. I wanted to ensure that language information reaches as many people as possible, fostering a deeper appreciation for the diverse languages found worldwide.

New Features

We built on the shoulders of giants. The mass of scholarly work that powers Ethnologue gave us so much to work with. Here are features that improve upon what those who came before had already built:

• more accessible without using accessibility plugins

• fully responsive

• improved SEO

• dynamic charts, interactive maps, and language trees

• extensive new content available for free

Gratitude

I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to all the contributors who have shared their language knowledge with Ethnologue. This project would not have been possible without their dedication, passion, and expertise. I am humbled by the opportunity to contribute to their vision and to have the opportunity to work with an amazing team of editors and staff, especially my design and development partners, Chad White, Jonathan Hubel, Karl Nippoldt, and Megan Mercado.

With the launch of the redesigned Ethnologue.com, I invite you to embark on a personal journey of exploration and appreciation for the languages that shape our global community. By making language information more accessible, we honor the remarkable contributions of language enthusiasts and experts worldwide. Join me in celebrating linguistic diversity and fostering a deeper connection to the cultures that thrive through the power of language.