MOST Journal on Multicultural Societies
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Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 20:56:19 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: MOST Journal on Multicultural Societies
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Matthias König <[email protected]>
MOST Journal on Multicultural Societies
# MOST Journal on Multicultural Societies Vol 3, No 2 to be published
soon
# World congress on language policies (Barcelona, 16-20 April 2002)
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# MOST Journal on Multicultural Societies Vol 3, No 2: "The Human
Rights of Linguistic Minorities and Language Policies" (Guest Editor:
Fernand de Varennes)
The MOST Journal on Multicultural Societies is soon publishing a
thematic issue on the human rights of linguistic minorities and
language policies, to continue the debate on linguistic rights which
was stimulated in a previous thematic issues (Vol 3, No 1). The
up-coming special thematic issue will feature the following articles:
- Editorial by Matthias Koenig
- Introduction by Fernand de Varennes
- "The European Union and Minority Language Rights" by Niamh Nic
Shuibhne
- "The Development of Language Legislation in the Baltic States" by
Boris Tsilevich
- "Language Policies in Central Asia" by Birgit N. Schlyter
- "Language Rights and Minorities in South Africa" by Kristin Henrard
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# "World congress on language policies"
It will be of interest to readers of the MOST Journal of Multicultural
Societies that the Centre UNESCO de Catalunya <[email protected]>
has recently announced the "World congress on language policies"
organized by the Linguapax Institute.
WORLD CONGRESS ON LANGUAGE POLICIES
Barcelona, April 16-20, 2002
Presentation
Since the begining of the 90s, the political, economic and
technological changes have raised the need to start a deep process of
thought about how to face these changes as far as the fast spreading
of new technologies, and the processes of globalization in the
economic, cultural and social spheres have a strong and intense
influence on languages, no matter their demographic strength or their
official status. And these processes can be a threat to linguistic
diversity as a fundamental part of the World's heritage. Within this
context, a series of tendencies, extralinguistic factors and needs
have a direct impact on languages, especially on the so-called
minority languages and on small and medium-sized languages:
1. In many cases, experience shows how civil society and civic
organizations can push official authorities to a more positive
attitude towards minority languages;
2. The main challenges faced by minority languages are to be found in
the impact of new technologies in the globalization process;
3. There is a need for new methodological and pedagogical approaches
to the teaching and learning of minority languages;
4. Language exercises a powerful symbolic attraction as a tool to
build up collective and individual identities;
5. The schooling system can discriminate against minority languages
pupils under the cover of laws that, at first glance, seem to support
and promote the learning process of these pupils;
6. Most of the time, gaps are to be found between law and its
practice; and
7. NGOs, civic organizations, and other representatives of minority
language groups are often more effective and fast moving than official
authorities.
Therefore, minority language issues should be linked to highly
relevant matters such as: the strengthening of democracy; the
increasing involvement of civil society; the recognition of linguistic
rights as human rights; the improving of living conditions; the access
to the labour market; the economic value-added of a language.
Main topics to be discussed
The Institute LINGUAPAX, with the support of the Directorate General
for Language Policy of the Government of Catalonia, therefore invites
researchers, social actors and activists, politicians, lawyers and all
those persons involved in the promotion of languages to take part in
this World Congress, whose sessions will deal with the following
topics:
1. Language laws and other legal instruments as tools for the
promotion of languages: design, implementation, evaluation and
follow-up;
2. The management of linguistic diversity in large urban centres in
order to ensure the maintenance of this diversity and to prevent
tensions and conflicts related to the use of diffferent languages, and
at the same time to ensure that the gradual integration of the host
society will be carried out through the medium of the autochtonous
language(s) of this society;
3. The study of concrete models and experiences in the field of
language policy and their evaluation according to cost-effectiveness
criteria in order to ensure a positive output of the invested human,
technical and economic resources;
4. The effective participation of civil society (civic organizations,
NGOs, etc.) in the design, implementation and follow-up of language
policies; and
5. The challenge of new technologies and the production of linguistic
resources to promote language diversity and the culture of peace.
There will also be complementary activities as exhibitions of
materials: posters, grammars, dictionaries, didactic tools, multimedia
demos, sociolinguistic resources available on the Internet, etc.
Structure of the Congress
The sessions of the Congress will be structured around six main
keynote addresses (Dr. E. Annamalai, Dr. L. Khubchandani, Dr. Tove
Skutnabb-Kangas, Dr. Peter Mühlhäusler, Dr. E. Nolue Emenanjo,
representatives of UNESCO) and five concurrent workshops addressing
the themes mentioned above. Two 30 minutes papers will be delivered
for each workshop by relevant scholars in order to focus and stimulate
further debate and discussion. People registered for the Congress will
receive these papers one month before the celebration of the Congress.
The working languages will be English, French, Catalan and Spanish.
The Congress will take place in the World Trade Center of Barcelona
situated in the Old Harbor (Port Vell-Moll de Barcelona) of the city.
Call for papers
Papers for the Congress should be submitted to the Linguapax Institute
([email protected]) before February 15, indicating the workshop in
which they should be presented. Papers must be four pages (A4) long
maximum, single-space, 12 point, headed by title, author(s), and
affiliation. The Scientific Committe of the Congress will review all
the papers and will select those to be presented at the workshops.
Registration fees
The registration fees to the Congress are 20.000 PTA. (120 euros) and
15.000 (90 euros) for students if the payment is made before January
31, 2002. After this date and up to 31 March, 2002 (closing deadline)
the registration fees will be 180 euros and 150 euros for students.
The organizers will provide to participants:
- Full access to sessions
- Documents (folder, CD with abstracts and full texts of keynotes and
papers)
- Cultural and leisure activities
- Welcome dinner and farewell lunch.
For more information please visit the web sites www.wtcbarcelona.com
and
www.linguapax.org
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===================================================
Contact:
Editor-in-Chief:
Matthias Koenig
Institute for Sociology
Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy
University of Marburg
GERMANY
Tel: +49 6421 28-26629
Fax: +49 6421 28-28978
E-mail: [email protected]
Director of publication:
Paul de Guchteneire
UNESCO MOST Clearing House
FRANCE
Tel: +33 1 45683850
Fax: +33 1 45685724
E-mail: [email protected]
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