As Ralph Waldo Emerson once remarked, languages are the archives of history. Growing up in Zhanjiang, a linguistically diverse crossroads in southern China, I lived in a region where languages are not only modes of communication but also vital carriers of identity and history. This environment, combined with my blended immigrant family background—including a Kazakh grandmother whose migration to southern China traversed thousands of miles—fostered my curiosity about how language shapes culture and community. Yet, I also witnessed firsthand how linguistic hierarchies often silence marginalized voices. This realization has profoundly influenced my academic journey, leading me to the interdisciplinary field of digital humanities with a focus on linguistic preservation and equity.
My academic path reflects this evolution. Initially, I pursued a degree at Peking University Health Science Center, drawn by a desire to help others and to understand the biological dimensions of human life. However, I found that the practical focus of health science left unanswered many of my questions about cultural and historical contexts. Eager to explore these dimensions, I applied for and completed a second degree in History, where I developed an interest in analyzing archives and exploring minority histories. Alongside this, I discovered the transformative potential of computational tools during electives in information management. These courses introduced me to programming languages and computational methods, complementing my earlier experiences in high school computer competitions. This exposure revealed to me that digital tools could bridge my dual passions for technology and the humanities.
This interdisciplinary realization came into full focus during my master’s studies in Digital Humanities at University College London. Building on my undergraduate experience with oral history projects and endangered language fieldwork, I explored computational methods for linguistic documentation. My thesis centered on a project called GooGan 1.0, which utilized decentralized technologies to empower low-resource linguistic communities. While my PhD proposal builds directly on this work, my research interests have expanded to include value-sensitive and sustainable design—principles that I view as essential for creating truly inclusive tools for cultural preservation.