The Rosetta Project is so called because it attempts to create a contemporary version of the Rosetta Stone. The idea is to develop a Web‐based resource that enables comparative language study and preserves languages which are in danger of future extinction. The main body of the Web site is a database of 1,000 languages. The project represents a global collaboration of voluntary contributions and comments from linguists, native speakers, and interested members of the public. The archive consists of seven components: detailed descriptions of the languages, a translation of Genesis, glossed vernacular texts, orthographies, Swadesh word lists, inventories of phonemes, and audio files. It is possible for contributors to submit a resource into one of these component areas for a particular language.
The database can be searched from a number of viewpoints, such as name of language and country of usage, or hierarchically by language family. It is also possible to browse by using these viewpoints. As one might expect at this early stage of the project many entries have little detail; on the other hand, some quite unexpected entries do have considerable detail. The strength of this site will ultimately be decided by the enthusiasm of its users. The crucial question will be whether the site gives back more than it takes. On my inspection the investment is well worth the effort and indeed for information about lesser known languages this is one of the best starting points.
There are some questions, however, that need to be raised about the design of this site. The navigation is at times difficult and some of the main pages appear over complicated and give a sense of clutter. The use of a dominant background image is clumsy and on occasions this detracts from the clarity of the foreground text. Because this is one of those Web sites that will evolve these design faults will most likely be ironed out with time.
The Long Now Foundation has initiated the project and it is further sponsored by Charles Butcher of the Lazy Eight Foundation. The ultimate aim is to have both a comprehensive archive that will be publicly available online and to publish a single‐volume monumental reference book. Also there are plans perhaps with the Rosetta Stone itself in mind to produce a micro‐etched nickel disk with a life expectancy of 2,000 years.
