“IT'S MY LANGUAGE, IT'S MY LIFE!”
Event Information
Description
The United Nations has proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages.
This is designed to “raise global attention on the critical risks confronting indigenous languages and its significance for sustainable development, reconciliation, good governance and peace building”
Language is a crucial part of a person’s identity and plays a fundamental role in the transmission of culture and traditions. Linguistic diversity is closely related to biodiversity and languages, like other threatened species, are disappearing at a dangerous rate: 40% of the over 7000 languages are in danger of extinction, thus contributing to the general threat to humanity’s survival.
Of the languages in danger, most are indigenous languages. Indigenous languages are particularly vulnerable and they must therefore constitute a priority in our action to protect this vital constituent of our planet’s survival.
UNA Westminster, Survival International and the Foundation for Endangered Languages, three organisations with a rich record of work on UN, indigenous, and language endangerment issues, have come together to contribute to the promotion of the spirit and the principles of this International Year.
Programme
1300 Registration
Screening of short films from the UN in Action series depicting challenges facing indigenous peoples in several countries.
13:45 Lunch Refreshments with vegetarian options, soft drinks, tea and coffee
14:15 Welcome: Professor Stephen Hopgood, Pro-Director (International), SOAS
Session 1 HOW THE UN SYSTEM COORDINATES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Moderator: David Wardrop, Westminster United Nations Association
14:20 "The UN family marking the International Year of Indigenous Languages"
Salem Mezhoud, Westminster United Nations Association
14.40 "UNESCO’s Programme of Mapping and Recording Indigenous Languages"
Chris Moseley, Foundation for Endangered Languages
Session 2 LANGUAGES, MAPPING, RECORDING, PRESERVING
Moderator: Hakim Elnazarov, Foundation for Endangered Languages
15.00 "Wikitongues and the Grass Root Language Recordings"
Kristen Tcherneshoff
15:20 "The Work of the Foundation for Endangered Languages"
Nicholas Ostler, Foundation for Endangered Language
15:40 Refreshment Break
Session 3 CASE STUDIES ON THREATS TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Moderator Salem Mezhoud, Westminster United Nations Association
15:50 "Factory Schools and other threats to tribal and indigenous peoples"
Jo Woodman, Survival International
16:10 "The Language Landscape Project: A Case Study of Promoting Indigenous
Languages in Borneo”
Charlotte Hemmings, Language Landscape (TBC)
16:30 - 17:00 Closing remarks, networking and refreshments