Strengthening measures to protect and revive highly endangered languages
Recommendation 1943
(2010)
Author(s):
Parliamentary Assembly
Origin
Text adopted by the Standing Committee, acting
on behalf of the Assembly, on 12 November 2010 (see Doc. 12423, report
of the Committee on Culture, Science and Education, rapporteur:
Mr Kumcuoğlu).
Thesaurus
1 Referring to its Resolution 1769 (2010) on
strengthening measures to protect and revive highly endangered languages,
as well as to its Resolution
1770 (2010) and Recommendation
1944 (2010) on the European Charter for Regional or Minority
Languages, the Parliamentary Assembly notes that, after the European
Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (the charter, ETS No.
148) entered into force on 1 March 1998, the Committee of Experts
which monitors and supports its implementation contributed to raising awareness
and encouraged national policies seeking to revitalise endangered
languages in many European countries.
2 However, despite the positive impact of the charter and the
valuable work of its Committee of Experts, many European languages
are seriously threatened and require increased protection in order
to guarantee linguistic and cultural diversity in Europe.
3 The Assembly considers that immediate action is required in
this field to encourage and support all member states – be they
parties to the charter or not – in developing and implementing policies
aimed at the revival of highly endangered languages. In this respect,
it is important to make the best use of the wide knowledge and unique
experience of the Committee of Experts of the charter, as well as
the potential of the European Centre for Modern Languages in Graz.
4 Therefore, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:
4.1 entrust the Committee of Experts
of the charter with identifying, collecting in a single publication and
disseminating best practices concerning languages traditionally
used in member states, in particular those which are highly endangered,
and with developing concrete guidelines on key issues, such as:
4.1.1 establishing a sound legal and administrative framework
for the protection of these languages;
4.1.2 raising the social status of these languages and encouraging
their use in homes and daily life;
4.1.3 developing educational policies in support of these languages
and teacher training;
4.1.4 setting up cross-border exchanges and co-operation;
4.1.5 strengthening the role of media and new information technologies
(notably by facilitating access to media, partnerships with media,
the creation of specialised websites, the setting-up of databases
and distance learning of endangered languages);
4.1.6 collecting, safeguarding and making available all kinds
of material on these languages;
4.2 adopt, on the basis of these guidelines, a recommendation
to member states on strengthening measures to protect and revive
highly endangered languages;
4.3 reinforce the European Centre for Modern Languages in
Graz so that it can play a central role in co-ordinating work to
save highly endangered languages and provide support, for example,
with:
4.3.1 the creation of networks at European and national
levels to share ideas and facilitate promising initiatives;
4.3.2 the development of targeted initiatives such as national
forums, national or regional specialised centres or libraries, publications
on cultural and artistic heritage linked with these languages and
the publication of specialised dictionaries.