General information
General information, research institutions, and selected language-specific sites:
ADUM is a project offering information on EU programmes relevant for the funding of minority language promotion projects. It includes an interactive networking environment, to aid the drafting of proposals. This project aims to offer people and organisations throughout Europe that work for the so-called "regional" or "minority" languages information on the European programmes that can be taken advantage of to (co)fund projects to promote these languages.
Centre Internacional Escarré per les Minories ètniques i les Nacions Rocafort (CIEMEN) - Ethnic World Survey
Links to minorities in Western and Eastern Europe can be found here, including Celtic countries, Mediterranean countries and others, including Sámi and Frisian regions. A link to Western Thrace Turks can also be found here.
Centre International de Recherche en Aménagement Linguistique (CIRAL)
The CIRAL website (in French) presents the situations and language policies of 111 countries (189 states).
Consortium for Language Policy and Planning
The Consortium for Language Policy and Planning is an unincorporated association of a number of research universities, advocacy bodies, and other scholars interested in issues of language policy and planning.
Défense du français
Fondée voici quatre ans, l'association "Défense du français" compte plus d'un millier de membres. Elle utilise divers moyens de pression, comme des lettres collectives, contre l'usage abusif de l'anglais.
Le ministère québécois de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine a consacré un site web à la diversité culturelle. L'information que vous y trouverez, vous permettra d'en savoir davantage sur la question de la diversité culturelle et sur le défi que le phénomène de la mondialisation pose au maintien de la diversité des cultures de par le monde.
The Educational Linguistics Forum explores the dynamic relationship between linguistics and education by supporting and promoting research in the transdisciplinary field of educational linguistics.
The Endangered Language Fund is devoted to the scientific study and maintenance of endangered languages. It supports efforts originated by native communities or scholars planning to work with endangered languages. The ELF site also proposes a list of endangered languages links.
General information on languages of the world can be found here.
This site contains background information and current developments regarding lesser-used languages in EU member states. In addition, an Archives section offers special reports on education in minority languages in Hungary, Holland, Italy, France, Spain, Wales and Ireland.
The Euromosaic Report was commissioned by the European Union to provide detailed information on each language community of the EU, and an analytical perspective on its prospects for the future. The Euromosaic Report was updated after the last EU enlargement.
European Centre for Minority Issues
The ECMI web site provides information about the activities of the centre in the field of majority-minority relations, conflict management, etc., with downloadable publications. This site maintains an extensive list of internet links to other websites dealing with minority issues.
European Language Council / Conseil Européen pour les Langues
The chief aim of the European Language Council is the quantitative and qualitative improvement of knowledge of the languages and cultures of the European Union and beyond. Its plays a key role in policy-making at a European level, while creating the framework and conditions necessary for common policy development.
European Languages Resources Association
The ELRA was established in order to promote the creation, verification, and distribution of language resources in Europe. The association aims to serve as a focal point for information related to language resources in Europe.
Links to information on minority languages of Europe can be found here.
Foundation for Endangered Languages
The Foundation aims to raise awareness of endangered languages, to support the use of endangered languages in all contexts, to monitor linguistic policies and practices, and to support the documentation of endangered languages by offering financial assistance, instruction, or facilities for the publication of results.
GeoNative strives to promote respect and increase knowledge of small nations, minorities, and native cultures. This website provides information on minorities in Europe.
Gesellschaft für bedrohte Sprachen
The goal of this non-profit organisation is to promote the use, preservation and documentation of endangered languages and dialects.
Gruppo di Studio sulle Politiche Linguistiche
GSPL (Gruppo di Studio sulle Politiche Linguistiche - Study Group on Language Policies) promotes and coordinates studies on language policies. It organises, among other things, seminars and symposia. GSPL can also edit publications related to language policy studies. GSPL is part of the Association of Italian Linguistics.
This website presents itself as a "virtual monument" devoted to the seriously endangered languages all over the world. The website aims to disseminate information about them and to foster regular contact with and between all native speakers of endangered languages. This site contains various links on languages in the world.
A comprehensive catalogue of language-related internet resources, including native literature and information on a number of languages.
This site proposes useful links on language policy, multilingualism, the dominance of English and global language structures.
This homepage is maintained by J. Crawford, a researcher with respected expertise in language issues in the United States. It provides access to a wide range of documentary resources in this particular area.
Language Policy and Planning Course
This address gives access to the syllabus of Dr. Hornberger's language policy and planning courses at the University of Pennsylvania, with different links of professional interest.
Language Policy: Bibliographical Resources
This is a Language Policy Reading List that provides references in the following domains: bilingual education, multilingualism, language planning, sociolinguistics, etc.
This address gives access to the syllabus of Professor Harold Schiffman's language policy course at the University of Pennsylvania, with further links to selected references and issues.
Linguamón - Casa de les Llengües
Linguamón - Maison des langues est un consortium formé, à l'origine, par la Generalitat de Catalunya (gouvernement autonome de la Catalogne), le Centre UNESCO de la Catalogne et la Fondation Forum Universel des Cultures.
Linguamón est un organisme créé par le gouvernement autonome de la Catalogne qui a pour objectif la promotion des langues du monde. Elle s'est fixé les objectifs suivants:
- Promouvoir la conservation, l'usage, la reconnaissance et l'apprentissage des langues du monde de manière que le progès social et économique ne les mette pas en danger. Elle travaille donc pour la durabilité linguistique.
- Favoriser la présence des langues sur Internet et lancer des moyens technologiques qui faciliteront les communications multilingues, ce que nous appelons Multilinguisme et cyberspace.
- Projeter, au niveau international, des modèles de réussite qui facilitent la coexistence des langues sur un même territoire ou parmi un même groupe de personnes, ce qui est connu comme la Gestion du multilinguisme.
The Linguapax Institute cooperates with many institutions that share the aim of fostering language diversity worldwide. The Linguapax International Network is made up of 7 delegations. These representatives agreed to gather efforts in order to promote the Linguapax philosophy through projects concerning revitalization and documentation of endangered languages, research on intercultural and multilingual education, teacher training with a special focus on multilingual education and elaboration of pedagogical material on non dominant cultures and languages
The Mercator Project was set up in 1987 with the help of the European Commission to collect documentation and information and carry out research on minority or regional languages. The Mercator Project is a group of thematic networks: Mercator-Education, Mercator-Legislation and Mercator-Media. Mercator-Education carries out research and documentation projects and offers information to general as well as specialised audiences. It is active in the field of education, and co-operates with the two other Networks on Media and Legislation to offer a broad range of information services. The site provides annotated links as well as a web rating system.
European Network for information, documentation and research on regional or minority languages in education
Mercator Linguistic Law and Legislation aims to create a database containing all legal and/or normative documents that compose the European linguistic frame, especially with regards to European Union institutions and languages.
A website on minority language media in the European Union. Mercator Media at the University of Wales Aberystwyth (UK) researches media, broadly defined as press, book-publishing, archives and libraries, as well as broadcast media and newer forms of media.
The database of the Minorities at Risk Project of the University of Maryland provides qualitative and quantitative information concerning minority groups around the world who meet the criteria for qualification as a minority at risk. Extensive links can be found on this website.
Minority European Languages Information Network
The MELIN has established a centralised website for the provision of language resources to users of minority and lesser-used languages in the EU. The website provisionally caters to four languages - Irish, Welsh, Catalan and Basque. After this initial project it intends to extend the service to other minority and lesser-used languages. Publication references can be found on this site.
MOST Clearing House - Linguistic Rights / UNESCO MOST Programme
This website provides several full text international legal documents concerning the rights of linguistic minorities, excerpts from more than 80 national constitutions containing provisions on language, and a brief bibliography on linguistic rights in international law, as well as a collection of annotated links.
Observatoire européen du plurilinguisme
This site aims at promoting language diversity in the European Union and at creating a database on languages and plurilingualism in Europe.
Peoples' Library of the Associazione per i Popoli Minacciati
This is a documentation centre on minorities, native peoples, and stateless nations. A mailing list on indigenous and minority issues is available on the website.
Red Book of the Peoples of the Russian Empire
This site contains information on peoples and languages under threat of extinction. Included are such groups as Chukchis, Crimean Tatars, Karaims, Lithuanian Tatars, and many others.
Summer Institute of Linguistics International
The Institute is a service and development organisation specialising in work with languages spoken by the world's smaller linguistic groups. Serving in over 50 countries, SIL develops programmes promoting linguistic research, language development, literacy, bible translation and other educational and research projects of practical, social and moral value. The site contains background information about the Institute, a searchable bibliography of SIL publications and catalogue and access to their electronic working paper series.
Terralingua aims to support the perpetuation and continued development of the world's linguistic diversity and to explore the connections between linguistic, cultural and biological diversity. A useful link collection is included in the website.
UCLA Languages Materials Project
The Language Materials Project of the University of California in Los Angeles contains more than 11,000 citations covering over 900 languages, providing bibliographic references for language teaching materials for less commonly taught languages. 40 of the languages are accompanied by detailed linguistic profiles that contain a map showing the geographical distribution of the language and a description of key dialects, grammatical features, and a historical background.