# Xabier Arregi Iparragirre

> researcher in Natural Language Processing

**Wikidata**: [Q57083968](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57083968)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/xabier-arregi-iparragirre

## Summary
Xabier Arregi Iparragirre is a Basque computer scientist, researcher, and politician specializing in Natural Language Processing (NLP). He is a prominent member of the Ixa Group and the HiTZ center at the University of the Basque Country, best known for his foundational work on Basque language technology, including the Xuxen spelling checker.

## Biography
- Born: 1964 in Zubieta
- Nationality: Spain
- Education: Licentiate in Computer Science (1987) and Doctorate in Computer Science (1995) from the University of the Basque Country
- Known for: Development of Basque language computational tools and research in Natural Language Processing
- Employer(s): University of the Basque Country
- Field(s): Computer Science, Natural Language Processing, Politics

## Contributions
Xabier Arregi Iparragirre has been instrumental in the development of digital infrastructure for the Basque language. His most significant technical contribution is **Xuxen**, a free software spelling checker for Basque launched in 1994, which became a vital tool for language normalization. He also contributed to the development of **EDBL**, a comprehensive lexical database for Basque. 

As a researcher at the University of the Basque Country, Arregi is a member of the **Ixa Group** and the **HiTZ zentroa** (Basque Center for Language Technology), which was established in 2019. His academic work includes the publication *Programen egiaztapena eta eratorpena*. Beyond his technical output, Arregi has mentored the next generation of NLP researchers, serving as a doctoral advisor to Igor Leturia, Arantxa Otegi, and Ander Soraluze. His influence extends into public service, having served as the **Mayor of Usurbil** from 2015 to 2019.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Xabier Arregi Iparragirre's most famous project?
A: He is a key developer of **Xuxen**, the first major free software spelling checker for the Basque language, which was released in 1994.

### Q: Has Xabier Arregi Iparragirre held any political offices?
A: Yes, he served as the **Mayor of Usurbil** between 2015 and 2019.

### Q: What research groups is he affiliated with?
A: He is a member of the **Ixa Group**, the **HiTZ zentroa**, the Spanish Society for Natural Language Processing, and the Udako Euskal Unibertsitatea (UEU).

## Why They Matter
Xabier Arregi Iparragirre’s work is central to the digital survival of the Basque language. By creating tools like Xuxen and the EDBL database, he helped ensure that Basque speakers had access to the same computational linguistic resources as speakers of larger global languages. His research within the Ixa Group has been recognized at the highest levels, including the 2013 Abadia Award for the group's collective efforts in language normalization. Furthermore, his career demonstrates a rare bridge between high-level academic research in computer science and local civic leadership.

## Notable For
*   **Xuxen (1994):** Co-developer of the foundational Basque language spelling checker.
*   **Abadia Award (2013):** Recipient of this prestigious award as part of the Ixa Group for work in Basque language normalization.
*   **Political Leadership:** Served as the Mayor of Usurbil from 2015 to 2019.
*   **Academic Mentorship:** Doctoral advisor to prominent NLP researchers including Igor Leturia and Arantxa Otegi.

## Body
### Academic and Professional Background
Xabier Arregi Iparragirre pursued his entire higher education at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). He earned his licentiate in computer science in 1987 and completed his doctorate in 1995. His doctoral studies were supervised by Arantza Diaz de Ilarraza Sanchez and Kepa Sarasola Gabiola. He currently serves as a university teacher and researcher at the same institution.

### Research and Language Technology
Arregi's research is primarily focused on Natural Language Processing (NLP). He is a long-standing member of the **Ixa Group**, a multidisciplinary team that has pioneered Basque language technology. In 2019, he joined the **HiTZ zentroa**, a specialized center for language technology in Spain. 

His technical portfolio includes:
*   **Xuxen:** A spelling checker that supports the Basque language.
*   **EDBL:** A lexical database for Basque.
*   **Publications:** Author of the work *Programen egiaztapena eta eratorpena*.

### Public Office and Personal Interests
Between 2015 and 2019, Arregi stepped into the political sphere, holding the position of Mayor of Usurbil. Outside of his professional and political life, he is a practitioner of **Basque pelota**, specifically the variant known as **Errebotea**.

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## References

1. datos.bne.es
2. [Source](https://www.europapress.es/euskera/noticia-ehuko-ixa-taldeak-anton-abbadia-saria-jasoko-du-gaur-euskararen-normalizazioan-egindako-lanarengatik-20131202133807.html)