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General inquires to UNESCO

Please post your suggestions for implementation of this Action Line of the Geneva Plan of Action:

While the text of this line of action is long, and effuses about the importance of language and culture, it misses an important part of the point.

This line of action is an essential pre-requisite for successful implementation of several other lines of action, including those concerning access, e-learning, media involvement and IT literacy. Moreover, direct action on language and education issues is within reach of, e.g., small research projects by NGO or University staff. For example, localized markup languages that are interoperable with current web standards could potentially assist the compilation and delivery of media content by and for communities in the African local and regional spheres, and these require only a few individuals to develop using currently available open-source and standardized technologies. What is needed is stimulation and coordination of such efforts, through local interests, educational institutions, and international consortia (e.g. Unicode and W3C).

Introduction

Linguistic and cultural diversity in cyberspace is one of the priorities identified at the recent World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). During its second phase in Tunis, a new institutional network was created by the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN), under the auspices of the African Union and NEPAD: “World Network for Linguistic Diversity”. While the initiative started in the context of the WSIS, it also includes organizations not solely focusing on cyber issues.

This new Network was officially be inaugurated by the Director General of UNESCO, H.E. Koïchiro Matsuura, in Paris at the occasion of the International Mother Language Day Celebration. A two-day workshop followed the launch. It’s aim was to identify the specific areas of work of the Network.

Description of the Network

A multi-stakeholder network, involving all sectors including civil society, governments, international organizations, research centers and universities, media, the private sector and individuals.

Its mission is to value and promote linguistic diversity as a basis of the unity of human communication.

Objectives

- Encourage governments and institutions to adopt and implement measures enhancing equitable multilingualism;
- Promote mother tongue-based bilingual and/or multilingual education at all levels of education everywhere as a means of promoting both social and gender equality;
- Promote software localization and equal access of all languages to cyberspace;
- Facilitate the empowerment of language communities worldwide in developing and using their own languages;
- Contribute to the creation and sharing of language resources;
- Observe the implementation of language policies and serve as a focal point for linguistic research projects.

Participants

The meeting gathered representatives from around the world, including Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Participants include representatives from government, civil society, private sector and international organisations (specialists in linguistic, in computing, representatives from language academies, etc.).

Representatives of the following institutions took part in the Tunis --during which the Network was created-- and/or its lauch in Paris: African Academy of Languages (ACALAN), Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie (AIF), Casa de les Llengües of Catalunya, Codice Idee per cultura SRL, E-Africa Commission du NEPAD, ENSTA, Funredes, GREF, SIL International, Linguasphere Observatory, Intlnet, ICVolunteers, Institut francophone des nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la formation (INTIF), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Language Observatory, International Literacy Institute of the University of Pennsylvania (ILI), Multilingual Internet Names Consortium (MINC), RECLA, Thai Computational Linguisitcs Laboratory, Toile Métisse, UNESCO, Unicode IDN in Africa, Union Africaine, Union latine.

Expected Results

- To contribute to the reduction of the knowledge divide through the construction of concrete, specific and adapted programs, which enhance the use of languages as means of the world’s cultures;
- To implement Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in the field of cultural and linguistic diversity;
- To contribute to the strengthening of the dialogue of cultures and civilizations for a world of peace and solidarity.

Action Line

The Network can be a valuable tool for UNESCO in the implementation of the action line on cultural and linguistic diversity.

For more information:

Contact

Présidence / Presidency

Académie Africaine des Langues, B.P.E. 214, Bamako, Mali, tél.: +223 223 84 47, fax: +223 223 84 50

Secrétariat / Secretariat

ICVolontaires, Case postale 755, 1211 Genève 4, Suisse, tél.: +41 22 800 14 36, fax: +41 22 800 14 36, email:

Maison des langues, Via Laietana, 46A, pral. 1a., 08003 Barcelona, España, email:

Introduction

La diversité culturelle et linguistique dans le cyberespace est l’une des priorités retenues dans le cadre du récent Sommet Mondial sur la Société de l’Information (SMSI). Lors de sa deuxième phase, à Tunis, un nouveau réseau a été créé par l’Académie africaine des langues, sous les auspices de l’Union Africaine et du NEPAD: “Réseau Mondial pour la Diversité Linguistique”.

Ce nouveau réseau sera officiellement inauguré par le Directeur général de l’UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura à Paris à l’occasion de la Journée Mondiale de la Langue Maternelle à l’UNESCO.

Description du Réseau

Un réseau multi-acteurs, impliquant tous les secteurs, dont la société civile, des gouvernements, des organisations internationales, des centres de recherche et des universités, les médias, le secteur privé et des individus.

Sa mission est de valoriser et promouvoir la diversité linguistique comme fondement de l’unicité de la communication humaine.

Objectifs

- Encourager les gouvernements et les institutions d’adopter et de mettre en œuvre des mesures favorisant un multilinguisme équitable;
- Promouvoir une éducation bi- et/ou multilingue basée sur la langue maternelle, à tous les niveaux de l’éducation, partout dans le monde, afin de garantir une égalité sociale et entre les genres;
- Promouvoir la localisation des logiciels et l’égale accès à toutes les langues au cyberespace;
- Faciliter la « capacitation » des communautés linguistiques à travers le monde à maîtriser le développement et à utiliser leur propre langue;
- Contribuer à la création et au partage de ressources linguistiques;
- Suivre à la mise en œuvre des politiques linguistiques et servir de point focal pour des projets de recherches linguistiques.

Participants

Des participants des différentes régions du monde, dont l’Afrique, l’Asie, l’Europe et les Amériques et provenant de structures gouvernementales, de la société civile, du secteur privé et des organisations internationales (spécialistes en linguistique, en informatique, représentants d’académies de langues...).

Des représentants des organisations suivantes ont participé à l’événement de Tunis --durant lequel le Réseau a été créé-- et/ou à son lancement à Paris: Académie Africaine des Langues (ACALAN), Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie (AIF), Casa de les Llengües of Catalunya, Codice Idee per cultura SRL, E-Africa Commission du NEPAD, ENSTA, Funredes, GREF, SIL International, Linguasphere Observatory, Intlnet, ICVolunteers, Institut francophone des nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la formation (INTIF), Language Observatory, International Literacy Institute of the University of Pennsylvania (ILI), Multilingual Internet Names Consortium (MINC), RECLA, Thai Computational Linguisitcs Laboratory, Toile Métisse, UNESCO, Unicode IDN in Africa, Union Africaine, Union Internationale des Télécommunications (UIT), Union latine.

Résultats attendus

- Contribuer à la réduction du fossé des savoirs à travers la mise en place de programmes concrets, spécifiques et adaptés de développement des langues comme véhicules des cultures du monde;
- Mettre en œuvre des partenariats multi-acteurs dans le domaine de la diversité culturelle et linguistique;
- Contribuer au renforcement du dialogue des cultures et des civilisations pour un monde de paix et de solidarité.

Proposition concernant la ligne d’action:

Ce Réseau peut être bon outil dans le cadre de la mise en oeuvre de la ligne d’action du SMSI liée à la diversité culturelle et linguistique.

Contact

Présidence

Académie Africaine des Langues, B.P.E. 214, Bamako, Mali, tél.: +223 223 84 47, fax: +223 223 84 50

Secrétariat

ICVolontaires, Case postale 755, 1211 Genève 4, Suisse, tél.: +41 22 800 14 36, fax: +41 22 800 14 36, email:

Maison des langues, Via Laietana, 46A, pral. 1a., 08003 Barcelona, España, email:

One of the actions that has been identified as critical is software localisation, and in particular the localisation of Open Source software, more adecuate to the economies of the developing world, as well as the being the only software that can be localised by the country itself, without requiring permission from any corporation.

In general, being limited to using software in a foreign language tends to exacerbate the digital divide, makes basic computer training long difficult and expensive, impoverishes local culture, blocks computer-based government processes, and does not allow those who do not know English access to jobs that require the use of computers.

For developing countries to localise software it is necessary to have guidance (why and what to localise, what to do with it after it has been localised) methodology, and tools for localisation that do not require a high technical skill level from the translators. At the same time, these tools must help them, through computer assisted translation, to do consistent work with little translation experience, by correctly using and enforcing glossaries and by re-using translations that have taken place before.

These tools must be prepared for volunteer-driven work, as well as for more organised translation groups who wish to follow a translation process that will lead to higher quality.

It is also important to encourage and fund localisation efforts that start in the countries, either in government, research institutions or civil society, making sure that that their final goals are social and not technical, and that part of their plans is the deployment of the software that they are localising, to ensure impact of the project.

75% of world’s populatiomn live in developimg countries and 80% of them live in villages. Folk art is a creative mode of expression for this vast majority of people to share something beautiful, consolidate an identity and resolve human rights issues for social transformation. It is absolutely neccessary to document,promote,popularise different folk arts for cultural diversity, creativity,social cohesion and human dignity.

I have already submitted my comments

My name is Brian Collins and I am leading the EASE History project at Michigan State University in the U.S. EASE History can be viewed at http://www.easehistory.org/

I would like to expand the current EASE History system so users could see, and better understand, key historical events from different nations. Those key events would have resources that would include interviews with historians, leaders, etc. from the different countries.
This would help users see events from multiple perspectives and have a deeper understanding the web-like nature of political, social, and cultural history at the local, national, and global levels.

Would anyone be interested in talking more about perhaps collaborating on a project like this?

My name is Davidson Okoko.I lead a team of enthusiastic youths in their quest to achieve the Millennium Development Goals using ICTs.In this area,I want to reiterate that in a world where there are between 6,000-8000 langages and few are spoken,the aim of preservation of divsersity is greatly threatened.In a world where few languages are what you see dotting al the PC screens across the world,there is considerable need to redirect our energies towards the issue of content and language of the web to be more representative.

Our Canadian NGO web.net (http://www.web.net) has begun piloting online applications in Central America that can support multiligual communities online, especially indigenous and those with less commonly taught languages:

“Yodigo” uses multimedia and the “Conditional Cash Transfer” model to deliver literacy:

http://www.yodigo.tv

“Quicklearn” uses animated characters ("avatars") to teach people about any issue or task:

http://www.lctquicklearn.com

We are very interested in partnering with other orgs. to further develop these prototype tools.

Thanks to UNESCO IFAP program for assistance.

Oliver Zielke

skype: ozielke
+1.416.596.0212 x.18

I can not come to this meeting
but I think “Groupe dess ecoles des telecommunications, GET/INT “ must partipate in some studies and conferences on linguistic diversities
Avril andrews is interested inthis subject, and is present on 12 may.

Je vous remercie pour l’important travail déja engagé.
1) Je soutiens la proposition de groupement des sous-groupes du trvail mais je me trouve devant une grande question à laquelle je ne trouve pas de réponse et il faut l’inscrire quelque part, en effet nous devons démontrer comment le concept de socété de l’information peut se completer avec le principe de la divercité culturelle c’est à dire comment conçilier le global au local!
Et je propose d’ajouter à cet effet dans le sous point 3(application effective des TIC en vue de) un troisièmme point sous le titre:diffusion de la culture numérique pour expliquer à tout les citoyens du monde le sens de la société de l’information et son évolution vers la société du savoir dans une étape ultérieure.

Libraries and information services work in many ways and at many levels to exhibit and support cultural and linguistic identity and diversity. Demonstration of cultural diversity through library holdings and programs is particularly important to indigenous communities and in societies and nations with rich migrant traditions.
For this goal, IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) have, since 1986, the Library services to multicultural population section. The Section brings together libraries and institutions engaged in the development and the provision of library services designed to reflect the cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity in society. The Section works with all types of libraries, especially public libraries, library consortia, non-library associations and government agencies to develop services and support for multicultural populations and their cultures in all countries. Multicultural populations can include new immigrants, indigenous groups, refugees, ethnic minorities and others who are seeking materials in languages reflective of their needs.This section promote access to a full range of library and information services suitable for linguistic, ethnic, and cultural minorities. . In order to achieve this, the Section supports and encourages libraries in all countries to provide services to multicultural populations through the promotion and dissemination of best practices, emerging trends and issues, and relevant programs. The Section serves as an international forum for the exchange of information concerning the development of multilingual and multicultural services.
This IFLA section is one of the different way to develop multicultural and mutilinguistic contents and acces to Internet.
More informations : http://www.ifla.org/VII/s32/index.htm