Diversité linguistique, langues menacées et développement durable

262 p.The UNESCO Chair on World Language Heritage at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) has carried out different linguistic cooperation activities which have shown that the effort made, particularly by the local community itself, always has a positive effect. Traditionally, we have had the right to be educated in “vernacular language”. This was the name given at that time to native or indigenous languages, which were generally unofficial languages. For the majority of these languages, this right has not been upheld. This year, 2019, the year of indigenous languages, many linguistic communities are decrying abandonment, apathy and a lack of real commitment to achieving the goals that the so-called bilingual schools are formally pursuing. It is an honour for us to be able to include contributions from the specialists we have called upon, who have generously responded with their original insights for this publication. This will help it to continue to stimulate development among the most vulnerable groups in society and particularly among communities of speakers of indigenous languages. The first half of the book contains more general contributions about linguistic diversity and its challenges as it relates to sustainable development. It includes theorising and reflections that, even if they take inspiration from knowledge and analysis of specific situations, provide information and suggestions for action to take which are relevant and applicable to any situation where there is a decline or a threat to linguistic diversity. The second half of the book incorporates contributions that could also be classified as general. However, they relate more specifically to certain languages and places which are under study and proposals specifically designed for those contexts are put forward. We believe its specificity to be its most valuable asset.Esta edición se ha realizado gracias a la financiación del Gobierno Vasco /Eusko Jaurlaritza, Departamento de Cultura y Política Lingüística y de la Fundación AZKUE. The edition of this volume has been made possible through financial Support of the Basque Government, Culture and Linguistic Policy Department and the Foundation AZKU

Diversité linguistique, langues menacées et développement durable

262 p.The UNESCO Chair on World Language Heritage at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) has carried out different linguistic cooperation activities which have shown that the effort made, particularly by the local community itself, always has a positive effect. Traditionally, we have had the right to be educated in “vernacular language”. This was the name given at that time to native or indigenous languages, which were generally unofficial languages. For the majority of these languages, this right has not been upheld. This year, 2019, the year of indigenous languages, many linguistic communities are decrying abandonment, apathy and a lack of real commitment to achieving the goals that the so-called bilingual schools are formally pursuing. It is an honour for us to be able to include contributions from the specialists we have called upon, who have generously responded with their original insights for this publication. This will help it to continue to stimulate development among the most vulnerable groups in society and particularly among communities of speakers of indigenous languages. The first half of the book contains more general contributions about linguistic diversity and its challenges as it relates to sustainable development. It includes theorising and reflections that, even if they take inspiration from knowledge and analysis of specific situations, provide information and suggestions for action to take which are relevant and applicable to any situation where there is a decline or a threat to linguistic diversity. The second half of the book incorporates contributions that could also be classified as general. However, they relate more specifically to certain languages and places which are under study and proposals specifically designed for those contexts are put forward. We believe its specificity to be its most valuable asset.Esta edición se ha realizado gracias a la financiación del Gobierno Vasco /Eusko Jaurlaritza, Departamento de Cultura y Política Lingüística y de la Fundación AZKUE. The edition of this volume has been made possible through financial Support of the Basque Government, Culture and Linguistic Policy Department and the Foundation AZKU

La revitalización de la lengua embera en Colombia: de la oralidad a la escritura

While the Embera people had in the past rejected to codify its own language, at the end of the 20th century the Embera from Chocó (Colombia) decided to start using a writing system for their language so as to introduce it in education. It was in 2010 when a three-year project was designed to accomplish this task. This article describes, firstly, the general background of the Embera language and society; secondly, it deals with the features of the project and its state of development. Finally, the article addresses the challenges the future poses to the maintenance of the EmberaMientras que el pueblo embera había rechazado codificar su lengua, a finales del siglo XX los embera del Chocó (Colombia) decidieron utilizar la escritura y facilitar así su introducción en la escuela. Fue en 2010 cuando se inició un proyecto de tres años con este objetivo. Este artículo describe, en primer lugar, los datos generales sobre la lengua y la sociedad embera; en segundo lugar, las características generales del proyecto y el estado de desarrollo del mismo. Finalmente, se plantean los retos que se vislumbran para el mantenimiento del embera en el futuro inmediato

Multilingualism in Benin. Some reflections from the perspective of sustainable development and multilingual education

Este artículo nos proporciona una visión general sobre la situación de la lengua Baribá en la República de Benín (África occidental) y reflexiona sobre la apremiante necesidad de hacer efectivas las aspiraciones de poner en marcha una política lingüística que impulse con seriedad y rigor una educación plurilingüe de calidad que ayude a preservar las lenguas originarias. A través de la visita a escuelas de los Departamentos de Bourgou y Alibori, y de las autobiografías lingüísticas de personas significativas de la comunidad de habla Baribá de esos departamentos, ponemos de relieve cinco consideraciones que subrayan la importancia del multilingüismo y apuntan a la escuela plurilingüe como elemento esencial para la conservación del patrimonio inmaterial, para el desarrollo social y para hacer efectivos los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible de la Agenda 2030 de las Naciones Unidas.Straipsnyje pateikiama apžvalga apie baribų kalbos padėtį Benino Respublikoje (Vakarų Afrika) ir apsvarstomas skubus poreikis efektyviai įgyvendinti trokštamą kalbos politiką, kuri palaikytų kokybišką, nuodugnų daugiakalbį švietimą, padedantį išsaugoti gimtąsias kalbas. Pasitelkiant apsilankymus vietinėse mokyklose Benino Borgou ir Alibori departamentuose bei svarbių baribų kalbos bendruomenės atstovų kalbines autobiografijas, išskiriamos penkios refleksijos, kurios akcentuoja daugiakalbystės svarbą ir įvardija daugiakalbę mokyklą kaip esminį elementą nematerialaus paveldo išsaugojime, socialinėje plėtroje ir Jungtinių Tautų 2030 m. darnaus vystymosi darbotvarkės tikslų siekime.The article provides an overview of the state of the Bariba language on the Replublic of Benin (West Africa) and reflects on the urgent need to make effective the wishes of implementing a language policy that promotes a rigurous multilingual education of quality that helps preserve native languages. Through some visits to local schools of the Beninese Departments of Borgou and Alibori and through the language autobiographies of significant people from the Bariba language community of those departments, we highlight five reflections that underline the importance of multilingualism and point out the multilingual school as a key element for the preservation of intangible heritage, for social development and for achieving the sustainable development goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda