[Discussion] CONF./CFP, Endangered Languages, Oct. 2004, Barcelona

[sule tarakcioglu]

CONF./CFP- FEL VIII, On the Margins of Nations: Endangered Languages,=20
Oct. 2004

Call for Abstracts: FEL VIII - Linguistic Rights

The Foundation for Endangered Languages: Eighth Conference
in cooperation with INSTITUT D'ESTUDIS CATALANS (UNESCO CHAIR)
Barcelona, 1-3 October 2004

On the Margins of Nations: Endangered Languages and Linguistic Rights

The Foundation for Endangered Languages' annual meeting comes back to=20
Europe this year, specifically to Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia,=20
on Spain's eastern seaboard.  Our topic will be "endangered languages=20
and linguistic rights", addressed both through reports on actual=20
experience, and through prescriptions for policy.  All approaches will=20
be welcome, but three aspects of this vast field are especially=20
suggested for discussion:

1) The politics of language from the grass-roots activity to political
institutions at all levels: how are linguistic rights acknowledged and,=20
where necessary, enforced? How can communities act to defend them?
2) The interplay of the global and the local in linguistic rights -
international, national and local: how are identities being redefined in=20
post-nationist discourses?
3) Endangered languages and linguistic rights crossing borders: what=20
rights can be asserted and duties accepted in diaspora situations, in=20
divided language communities and where languages are spoken by migrant=20
groups?

We view language politics and language policy simultaneously from the=20
bottom up and the top down. Language communities' struggle for rights=20
may take different forms and pursue different goals.

 - What claims are the communities making?
 - What are the goals of grass-roots action?
 - To what extent can one language community take advantage of another's
   goals and methods?
 - Can any effective language policies be developed top-down?
 - How do such policies affect the acknowledgement and enforcement of
   linguistic rights, from bare toleration up to strong promotion of
   endangered languages?
 - Is positive discrimination necessary in order to achieve equality=20
among languages in a community?
 - Where language revitalization programs are in progress, how are=20
duties shared among speaker communities and political powers?
 - Is there any way to assess language policies / language=20
revitalization programmes and their effectiveness?

In a world with ever heightened communications, the interplay between=20
the local and the global is increasingly complex. We need to analyse the=20
status of endangered languages with respect to linguistic rights and=20
politics, which now extend beyond the nation to supranational and global
organizations. How relevant, for example, are international measures and
recommendations, such as UNESCO's Declaration on Cultural Diversity=20
(2002), Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage=20
(1998) and proposal for a "Convention sur la diversite culturelle" (2003)=
?

Most endangered languages and communities are enclaves within the limits=20
of a state. Others, however, spread across political and other=20
boundaries. Borders may be considered as either barriers or=20
opportunities. We shall focus on the causes and consequences of these=20
situations:

 - How does this cross-border situation affect people's linguistic rights=
?
 - What kind of policies are favoured by governments towards such divided
   language communities?
 - What kind of international agreements have been / may be developed to
   manage the issue?
 - What happens when the linguistic situation is uneven across a communit=
y,
   with differing rates of language shift or language revitalization?

One social effect of globalization is an increase in migration. This=20
poses other issues:

 - What are the rights of diaspora and migrant communities?
 - What are the rights and duties of immigrants in their host country?
 - What are the rights of nomadic people?

This discussion of rights may end up posing interesting challenges to=20
the kind of discourse that has become usual about endangered languages,=20
which has tended to emphasize the intrinsic value of diversity. But=20
ultimately, we may need to engage in quite different discourses for=20
different audiences. Different communities too may prefer to rely on=20
different lines of argument, and quite different strategies.

Abstract Submission

Abstracts should not exceed 500 words. They should be submitted in two=20
ways:
by electronic submission and also on paper. They will be accepted in=20
English and Catalan.

1) Electronic submission: Electronic submission (by 19 March 2004)=20
should be as attachment in Word or format in email message to=20
<jargenter@iecat.net>
   Please fill in the subject domain as follows: FEL_Abstract

2) Paper abstracts: Three copies should be sent (by 19 March 2004) to:

Dr. Joan A. Argenter
C=E0tedra UNESCO de Lleng=FCes i Educaci-
VIII FEL Conference
Institut d'Estudis Catalans
Carrer del Carme, 47
E-08001 Barcelona
Catalonia, Spain

This should have a clear short title, but should not bear anything to
identify the author(s).

On a separate sheet, enclosed in an envelope, please include the=20
following information:

NAME : Names of the author(s)
TITLE: Title of the paper
EMAIL: Email address of the first author, if any
ADDRESS: Postal address of the first author
TEL: Telephone number of the first author, if any
FAX: Fax number of the first author, if any

The name of the first author will be used in all correspondence. If
possible, please also send an e-mail to Joan A. Argenter
<jargenter@iecat.net> informing him of the hard copy submission. This is=20
in case the hard copy does not reach its destination. This e-mail should
contain the information specified in the above section.

Oral presentations will last twenty minutes each, with a further ten=20
minutes for discussion. Plenary lectures will last forty-five minutes=20
each. Authors will be expected to submit a written paper with the full=20
version of the lecture for publication in the proceedings well in=20
advance of the conference.

Important Dates

 - Abstract submission deadline 19 March 2004
 - Committee's decision 12 April 2004
 - In case of acceptance, the full paper should be sent before 18 June=20
2004.
   (Further details on the format of text will be specified to the author=
s)
 - Conference 1-3 October 2004

Nicholas Ostler
Foundation for Endangered Languages
UK Registered Charity 1070616
http://www.ogmios.org
http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Philosophy/CTLL/FEL/

Batheaston Villa, 172 Bailbrook Lane
Bath BA1 7AA
England
tel: +44-1225-85-2865
fax +44-1225-85-9258
e-mail: nostler@chibcha.demon.co.uk