Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s Post

"Council of Europe expert committee calls for action plans to protect minority languages in Czechia Strasbourg, 22.05.2024 – The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of the Council of Europe has called on Czechia to design and implement a specific strategy and action plan for protecting and promoting each of the languages covered by the treaty in the country: German, Moravian Croatian, Polish, Romani and Slovak. In a report released today, the Committee of Experts welcomes the Czech authorities’ decision to extend its undertakings under the Charter regarding German in the districts of Cheb, Karlovy Vary, Sokolov, Liberec, Ústí nad Labem, Český Krumlov, Opava and Svitav, which will significantly increase the offer of education and media in German and promote its use in citizens’ communication with public administrations. The Ccommittee of Experts considers that this decision can form the basis for a structured policy for protecting and promoting German in public life. So far, pre-school, primary and secondary education in regional and minority languages has only been available in Polish. German is taught as a foreign language, and Moravian Croatian, Romani and Slovak are not taught in mainstream education. Regarding judicial authorities, the Committee of Experts considers that the legislation should be amended to enable the use of regional and minority languages before and by courts. In several municipalities, bilingual topographic signage in Czech and Polish has been installed, but the Committee of Experts considers that the 10% population threshold to adopt this measure hinders the introduction of such place names in additional municipalities and creates uncertainty as to whether the signage will be maintained in the local share of the Polish minority falls below 10%. The report recommends extending the duration of the public television programme in Polish and regrets that there are currently no television programmes in German, Slovak, Romani or Moravian Croatian. Moreover, public radio broadcasting in German and Slovak is considered too limited to contribute to the promotion of these languages and, in the case of Moravian Croatian, is non-existent. The fifth evaluation report of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is based on the information provided by governmental and non-governmental sources, including that obtained during its visit to Czechia in September 2023.  The evaluation report has been published together with the Czech authorities’ comments. A summary of the report is available in Czech." #metaglossia_mundus

The ACTA Consultancy Group on Indigenous English as an Additional Language or Dialect provided feedback on the draft International Decade of Indigenous Languages Priorities Paper (the Priorities Paper) in 2023. In partnership with the International Decade of Indigenous Languages Direction Group (the Directions Group), the authors of the draft Paper incorporated ACTA’s feedback into the revised Paper, specifically regarding the importance of a national approach to stopping First Nations language loss, and greater recognition of bilingual-biliterate learning and non-traditional and emerging First Nations languages. The Paper was endorsed by the Directions Group in March 2024 and provided to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Language Policy Partnership to feed into their language priorities under Target 16 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Read more @ https://lnkd.in/d6vHz53x

In the lead up to today’s European Day of Languages, have you spotted Robert Dunbar (Chair of Celtic Languages, Literature, History and Antiquities) in the media talking about the Council of Europe’s report into the UK’s delivery on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages? This Charter is the world’s only treaty aimed at the protection of minority languages - in the UK, it covers Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Irish, Scots, Ulster-Scots, Cornish and Manx. Rob is one of the Charter’s current Committee of Experts who wrote the report. Overall, the Committee found that there is a good framework in the UK for protecting regional or minority languages, but there is an over-reliance on volunteers for the development of some languages – notably Cornish, Scots and Ulster Scots – and a lack of adequate and systematic funding. Its recommendations include the strengthening of the teaching of all regional or minority languages in the UK. Read more about the report (includes a link to the report in full) > https://lnkd.in/ekTUBbBD? #CoEEDL #MinorityLanguages

I am delighted that the #article ‘Language as a diasporic stance: Polish in a migrant urban space’ that I wrote with Yaron Matras has now been published in Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, and is available in #OpenAccess: https://lnkd.in/d6pRA2H4 In the article we examine the role of the Polish #language in shaping single transactions and durable social bonds and in demarcating interaction spaces among Polish immigrants in a UK metropolitan area. Language choice can be essential, in that it cannot be replaced by a substitute. Therefore, it is either constitutive of an action routine in the sense that it lends a particular performative character to a practice; or casual, in that it accompanies a routine but is of little symbolic function and contributes little to performing belonging. We identify a spread of features of language across different practices, prompting reflection on the role of language as a co-defining indicator of #diaspora communities.

There's a lack of concrete constitutional guarantees, community credibility and long-term funding in Canada's legislation in revitalizing #Indigenouslanguages, some may say. https://hubs.ly/Q02nyQSx0 #language #languagematters #indigenous #languagepolicy #firstnations #inuktitut

For the past several months, Mayan Languages.net has provided professional online video interpretation services in several Mayan languages to a county court system in the Southwestern United States. Why This Service is Essential: Growing Need: The Southwestern US has seen a significant increase in the number of Mayan language speakers, particularly in states like Arizona, New Mexico, and California. According to the Migration Policy Institute, indigenous language speakers from Central America, including Mayan languages, are a rapidly growing demographic in the US. Access to Justice: Ensuring that all individuals have access to fair legal representation and understanding is critical. Language barriers can impede justice, making it essential to have interpreters who can accurately and effectively communicate in Mayan languages. Qualified Expertise: At Mayan Languages.net, we pride ourselves on our team of highly qualified interpreters who are not only fluent in various Mayan languages but also trained in legal terminology and court procedures. This ensures that our interpretation services are both accurate and contextually appropriate. We aim to enhance the judicial process for Mayan language speakers, ensuring they receive the fair treatment and understanding they deserve. 🌐 Discover more about our services at www.mayanlanguages.net #MayanLanguages #LanguageServices #Interpretation #LegalInterpretation #SouthwesternUS #AccessToJustice #CulturalHeritage"

A must-read for everyone interested in language rights and revitalization of minority languages.

Yes, the ability to understand your world in your language should be a human right.

San Francisco takes a significant step towards inclusivity by declaring Vietnamese an official language, joining Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino. This move ensures residents can access city services in their preferred language. What implications do you think this has for the translation industry and cultural exchange initiatives? #VietnameseLanguage #SanFrancisco #Inclusivity #TranslationIndustry #CulturalExchange https://lnkd.in/exCg-QNs