#i don't use duolingo anymore but you get the point

[wiisagi-maiingan]

I get that it's extremely frustrating when language learning programs add fictional languages before they add certain real ones, but I also think it's important to point out that fictional and real languages are NOT comparable in terms of learning difficulty or creating courses.

Fictional languages don't have hundreds and thousands of years of history and culture behind them, they don't have numerous dialects (some of which are only spoken in very small communities), they don't have a ton of cultural and social context and nuance from developing slowly over time, etc. Most fictional languages even have complete written guides by their creators; others are only partial languages where people just want to learn them to understand some lines from their favorite shows or books.

Is it frustrating and hurtful that Duolingo has languages like High Valyrian but not my tribe's very real language? Sure, of course, but Anishinaabemowin isn't fictional; it's a hugely complex language that is difficult to learn and that needs to be treated with thoughtfulness and respect, and I don't WANT it to be added to language learning programs of it's going to be half-assed, done incorrectly, or involves exploiting the labor of Aninshinaabe speakers.