The following item from Afriquenligne and Panapress was seen via a link on the "UNESCO in the Spotlight" blog http://unescoscience.blogspot.com/2008/02/new-edition-of-unesco-courier-is-out.html
International Year of Languages to be launched at UNESCO http://www.afriquenligne.fr/news/daily-news/international-year-of-languages-to-be-launched-at-unesco-2008020816508/ News - Daily News This year's International Mother Language Day, celebrated 21 February every year since 2000, will be used for the formal launching of t he International Year of Languages, proclaimed recently by the United Nations General Assembly. According to a UNESCO press statement, issued in Paris, France, and made available to PANA here Thursday, the occasion will be used to stress the importance of linguistic diversity and for the promotion of the use of mother languages. UNESCO, which had proclaimed 21 February the International Mother Language Day, said the occasion would place special emphasis on international standards and set up instruments related to multilingualism. A seminar, organized jointly with the Council of Europe, will be held at UNESCO Headquarters 21 February at which legal instruments such as the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will be examined. Linguistic policies put into effect on the African continent or in countries like Hungary and Paraguay are also on the agenda for discussion. "Far from being a field reserved for analysis by specialists, languages lie at the heart of all social, economic and cultural life," says the UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura, in a special message for the international mother language day. It is estimated that more than 50 per cent of some 6,700 languages spoken in the world are threatened with extinction in the long term, and on the average of every two weeks, a language ceases to be spoken. According to experts, 96 per cent of languages are spoken by only 4 per cent of the population. Dakar - 08/02/2008 Panapress **************************** Disclaimer ****************************** Copyright: In accordance with Title 17, United States Code Section 107, this material is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material posted to this list for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Content: The sender does not vouch for the veracity nor the accuracy of the contents of this message, which are the sole responsibility of the copyright owner. Also, the sender does not necessarily agree or disagree with any opinions that are expressed in this message. ********************************************************************** Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
