27 September 2024
Introduction
One of the most recent advancements in the implementation of Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) is Paraguay's initiative to integrate the Guaraní language into its country code top-level domain (ccTLD), “.py”, ran by NIC.PY. Guaraní is indigenous to the region, one of Paraguay's official languages, and spoken in neighboring countries, holding strong cultural significance for the Paraguayan people. This article delves into the historical aspects and technical innovations that have led to this development.
Historical context
Alongside Spanish (locally referred to as Castellano), Guaraní has been an official language of Paraguay since its 1992 Constitution. The language’s journey to recognition has not been straightforward, however. During the dictatorship of General Alfredo Stroessner, from 1954 to 1989, Guaraní occupied a paradoxical position. The regime leveraged Guaraní in nationalist propaganda to foster a sense of unity, particularly among the rural populace. However, this use did not translate into substantial support for Guaraní in formal domains, as Spanish remained the language of the elites, government administration, and formal education, reinforcing and deepening existing social divides (Lambert, 1997).
The 1967 Constitution acknowledged Guaraní as a national language, yet this recognition was largely nominal and did not mandate its use in public affairs. It was only following the end of Stroessner's dictatorship and Paraguay's transition to democracy that Guaraní was declared an official language. This constitutional change mandated bilingualism in government and education, significantly elevating the status of the language and promoting its usage among all social classes, which led to its earnest adoption as a symbol of national identity (Gynan, 2001).
As a result, the vast majority of Paraguayans have Guaraní as one of their languages, so allowing relevant non-ASCII characters in domain names is a relevant tool to support the preservation of their cultural identity in the digital age. For Guaraní, this means the ability to use characters like "ã," "ẽ," "g̃," and "ỹ,", as well as the “pusó” (explained below), which are integral to accurately representing the language online.
Technical considerations
The Guaraní alphabet includes several nasal vowels and consonants marked by diacritical tildes, such as "ỹ", as well as special consonants like "g̃", which are not standard in Spanish. Additionally, it features the pusó (ꞌ), a character representing a glottal stop that differs from the standard apostrophe, as it is not merely a pronunciation feature, but can actually change the meaning of words. An analogue in spoken English occurs when a person utters the exclamation of concern “uh-oh”, in which both syllables are initiated with glottal stops.
The pusó character adds a unique technical challenge, as it requires specific encoding for proper domain name functionality. The standard apostrophe (U+0027) is disallowed in both the 2003 and 2008 versions of the Internationalized Domain Names in Applications (IDNA) protocol, which already presents an initial barrier to implementation. The solution present in IDNA 2008 (RFC 5891, RFC 5892) is the use of the Latin Small Letter Saltillo (U+A78C), which is a compatible with the pusó and aligns with Guaraní orthography. This is required to accurately represent words like "vy'arã" (translation: “happiness”), making domain names like “vyꞌarã.org.py” possible.
Punycode transforms Unicode strings containing non-ASCII characters into ASCII-Compatible Encoding (ACE) required for DNS compatibility. Using our example "vyʼarã.org.py," the conversion results in "xn--vyar-ira.org.py." However, proper implementation of this character demands significant Universal Acceptance across various systems, including Web browsers and email clients. Issues arise particularly from inconsistent representation in email services and DNSSEC configurations. IDNA2008 adoption is not as widespread as it would be desirable, and is fairly untested in use cases such as this one.
Due to these challenges and potentially other undisclosed considerations, NIC.PY ultimately decided not to include the pusó in the set of allowed characters for the time being, making available 15 new characters in total: á, ã, é, ẽ, g, í, ĩ, ñ, ó, õ, ú, ũ, ü, ý, ỹ. This decision enhances the representation of Guaraní in domain names while maintaining compatibility and functionality across the Internet.
Deployment
The deployment of IDNs for “.py” followed a structured and gradual process. The initiative began in July 2023, with the introduction of an experimental phase that allowed current holders of non-IDN “.py” domains to register IDN versions of their domains. This phase prioritized a one-to-one mapping, enabling domain owners to secure their names in Guaraní script without competition.
From January 2024, the registration process opened to the general public, extending the availability of IDNs across a variety of second-level domains such as “.com.py”, “.net.py”, and “.org.py”. This phased rollout provided time for necessary technical adjustments, public outreach, and education, ensuring a smooth transition to the new system. A critical component of this deployment has been ensuring seamless integration with existing DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC).
The introduction of Guaraní IDNs has the potential to stimulate economic growth by enabling local businesses to reach customers more effectively in their native language. In the education sector, schools and universities can utilize Guaraní domain names to promote educational resources, fostering greater inclusion of indigenous languages in academic materials. Socially, Guaraní IDNs empower communities by providing a digital identity that aligns with their cultural heritage.
Conclusion
The implementation of IDNs for the “.py” ccTLD marks an important step in preserving Guaraní's linguistic heritage in the digital age. Paraguay's initiative demonstrates how a nation can integrate indigenous languages into its digital infrastructure, promoting both cultural pride and practical use in the online space. This initiative sets a precedent for other countries aiming to safeguard their native languages in the digital realm, which can learn from the strong points and limitations found during this effort.
With thanks for the presentations carried out by Nathalia Bogarín and Martha Fretes Carvallo, which provided great clarity in relation to the challenges and opportunities around the adoption of Guaraní.
By Mark W. Datysgeld