A recent campaign suggests that common Irish names are frequently marked as “incorrect” by autocorrect systems. The I am not a typo (IANAT), a UK campaign pushing for better tech inclusivity, discovered that names flagged as wrong by an English (UK) dictionary are generally Irish.
Taking Northern Ireland as a case, they noticed that autocorrect perceived 42% of the babies’ names from 2022 as “misspellings”, revealed by their study. Using Microsoft’s English (UK) dictionary as a reference, 1,430 out of 3,367 names were viewed as “incorrect”.
In total, 56% of the 1,089 boys’ names and 36% of the 2,278 girls’ names in Northern Ireland for the year 2022 were identified as misspellings by the system. A deep dive into the popular Irish names was taken, during which it was ascertained that girls’ names such as Fiadh, Eabha and Meabh, and boys’ names Oisin, Daithi, and Odhran, among others, were incorrectly registered as typographical errors.
In a letter addressed to technology behemoths, the campaigners urged them to re-evaluate their spell check systems and upgrade their digital dictionaries. Emphasising that technology should reflect the society it operates in, they argue for the necessity of change.
Dhruti Shah, a writer and journalist supporting the campaign, also mentioned how her six-letter name is persistently seen as an error or a non-recognised term by autocorrect features and online dictionaries.
“Dhruti is my name, not Drutee, Dirty or even Dorito. Yet, these are how my name has often been mutated due to autocorrect hieroglyphics or hasty texting,” she explained, indicating that such instances tend to feel like an invalidation of one’s identity.
The Institute for the Appreciation of Names and Titles (IANAT) highlights that names which are frequently miscategorised originate predominantly from Africa and Asia, which in their view, fails to endorse a harmoniously diverse and inclusive community.
Professor Rashmi Dyal-Chand from the illustrious Northeastern University in the USA, had undertaken an investigation on this subject, titled “Autocorrecting for Whiteness”. She argued that autocorrecting names could be detrimental to those affected.
“When an autocorrect error alters the name I’ve typed in an email, I feel accountable and I compose another email to express my regret. Autocorrect implies that I am indifferent or careless, or that I don’t hold enough respect for the individual I’m communicating with to ensure their name is correct,” she explained.
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