[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Personnel (2 operators) $100.000 Running cost (maintenance, repairs, insurance, expendables) $ 25.000 Newsletter $ 35.000 Total $200.000 ========= Annex to 3 : 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. Peter Muhlhausler Linacre College, Oxford OXl 3JA (bK) Tel.: (44) 865 51 38 38 Fax : (44) 865 27 16 68 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- end of file