[This document constitutes a part of the CIPSH (UNESCO) "Red Book" Project
on Endangered Languages in the World and can be acquired world-wide from
a sub-directory coombspapers/unesco-endangered-languages-project
via anonymous FTP on the Internet node COOMBS.ANU.EDU.AU]
[Last installed/updated: 13 April 1992]
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Conseil International de la Philosophie et des Sciences Humaines
International Council for Philosophy and Humanistic Studies
(UNESCO)
Final resolution of the First Expert Meeting on
"Red book" on Endangered Languages
"Livre rouge" des Langues en peril
Paris, 10 - 15 February 1992
Note : The term "red book" does not imply publication in book form.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The meeting of experts which took place from 10 - 13 February 1992
in the UNESCO Building in Paris came to the definite conclusion that a
project dealing with endangered languages was feasible. The experts
discussed the ways and possibilities of dealing with the grave world-
wide problem of the decline and disappearance of languages and the
resulting impoverishment of the non-physical and intellectual cultural
heritage of mankind and decided to make the recommendations given below
now, and to approach it on a stepwise basis through giving special
attention to the description, in the form of grammars, dictionaries,
and texts, of hitherto unstudied or inadequately documented endangered
and dying languages and to the recording of their oral literature.
In this, notice will be taken of UNESCO priorities, i.e. Africa and the
least developed countries. Mention is drawn to the fact that amongst
the last speakers of dying languages there tends to be a preponderance of
women. Also the programme of literacy could be of relevance in
relation to endangered languages. These matters constitute one of the
two major themes of the XVth International Congress of Linguists in
Quebec (9-14 August 1992).
The meeting also recommends that the participants appeal to their
linguist colleagues the world over that endangered languages be given
preference in their studies as far as this may be feasible.
It was decided to seek the adoption through the intermediary of
National UNESCO Commissions, of a resolution drafted by the meeting on
endangered languages, by the UNESCO General Conference in 1993, which
is the International Year for the World's Indigenous People. The meeting
will seek the adoption of its resolution in the light of the resolution
adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations at its 69th plenary
meeting on 18 December 1990.
It was decided to seek the endorsement of a resolution by the meeting
on the occasion of the Symposium on African languages organized by CIPSH
during its XXIst General Assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe (20 - 22 September
1992).
Recommendation to CIPSH
1. The meeting requests CIPSH to give high priority to this project and
give consideration to the re-aligning of its funding policies for projects
in general in the light of this.
Recommendations to UNESCO
1. The meeting requests UNESCO to include in its programme the compilation
of the available information on the status and relevant socio- linguistic
facts of the endangered and dying languages of the world into the form of
an updatable "red book" to be incorporated into the Clearing House.
2. The meeting requests UNESCO to negotiate with the Government of Japan
or other funding agencies in Japan regarding the establishment of a Clearing House and Data Bank Center in Tokyo.
3. The meeting recommends that UNESCO provide seed money for a restricted
number (five) of research projects in 1994-1995, at the level of $5.000
per project, provided the Governments concerned are in agreement and local
researchers are involved as far as possible.
The establishment of further small Clearing Houses or Centers, expanding
existing facilities in various countries, is foreshadowed for later.
Annex to 2:
The purpose of such a Clearing House and Data Bank Center is to
gather, in one place, relevant information for the world-wide study of
endangered languages, i.e. lists and locations, etc. All this information
is to be computerized and available world-wide through computer channels
and in hard copy form as may be required anywhere. There is planned to be
easy accessibility to the Center by computer, fax, and telephone, both for
requests for information on the screen or in hard copy and news bulletin
form, on the progressing state of the information stored for access and
use.
Estimated Cost of the Clearing House for the starting year (in Japan,
April 1993 )
Equipment including Newsletter (terminal, laser printer, systems
compatibility translater, modern 200 Megabytes discs, 10 Megabyte RAM,
software, Fax machine, copier, etc. :
$40.000
The five research projects involve descriptions of unstudied endangered
languages as follows :
l) The Hei//on Bushman language in Namibia which has 15-20 speakers left.
The work would be carried out by a linguist from the University of Koln,
Germany, in collaboration with a colleague in Namibia. For extra funding
see 2) below.
2) The Ongome language of the Kilimanjaro slopes, Tanzania. Probably
Nilotic. To be studied by a linguist from the University of Koln, Germany,
and a Tanzanian linguist. Extra funding for l) and 2) will be sought by
the University of Koln.
3) and 4) : The Koaia and Aikena languages spoken in the same community in
Brazil. Both are unrelated isolates. Koaia has 80 speakers, Aikena is only
spoken by one family, all of the surviving members of which are women
(about 10). The work is to be carried out by a Brazilian linguist.
Extra funding will be sought by Brazilian centres and Leiden University.
5) One of the endangered North Australian or New Guinean languages To
be studied by a linguist from the Australian National University and a local
linguist. Extra funding will be sought by the Australian National University.
S.A.WURM
Chairman of the meeting
List of participants - Expert meeting - 10-13 February 1992
Prof. Willem F.H. Adelaar
Institute of Comparative Linguistics, University of Leiden, B.P. 9515,
2300 RA Leiden (The Netherlands)
Tel.: (31) 71 27 25 01 / 71 27 25 11
Fax : (31) 71 27 26 15
Prof. Dr. Bernd Heine
Director, Institut fur Afrikanistik, University of Koln (Cologne),
5000 Koln 41 (Germany)
Tel.: (49) 221 470 27 08
Fax : (49) 221 470 51 58
Prof. Michael Krauss
Director, Native Language Center, University of Alaska,
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-0120 (USA)
Tel.: (1) 907 474 65 88 - Home tel.: (1) 907 479 63 40
Fax : (1) 907 474 65 86
Prof. Roland Ris
Vice-president of CIPSH, Academie suisse des sciences humaines
Home address : Hostalen 190, 3037 Herrenschwanden (Switzerland)
Home tel.: (19) 41 31 24 38 74
Fax :
Prof. Shigeru Tsuchida
Head, Deparment of Linguistics, Faculty of Letters, The University of Tokyo,
7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113 (Japan)
Tel.: (81) 3 3812 2111, extension (Naisen) 3807 or 3806
Fax : (81) 3 3816 0949
NB. Home address and home tel. preferred, as follows :
4-42-1 Kugahara, Ota-ku, Tokyo 146 (Japan)
Tel.: (81) 3 3751 0441
Prof. Eugenius M. Uhlenbeck
Secretary General of CIPL, Dr. Kuyperlaan 11,
2215 NE Voorhout (The Netherlands)
Tel.: (31) 25 22 11 852
Fax : (31) 71 14 14 88
Prof. Stephen A. Wurm
President of CIPSH, The Australian National University, RSPacS, Linguistics,
G.P.O; Box 4, Canberra, A.C.T. 2601 Australla
Tel.: (61) 62 492 369, (61) 62 45501 (answering service)
Home tel.: (61) 24 86627
Fax : (61) 62 571 893
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