The conceptualisation of the links between the maintenance and revitalisation of minority, endangered and indigenous languages and sustainable development.
How is language central in the success of sustainable development, by promoting ideas, concepts, ideologies about health, economic wellbeing, justice, etc./ within communities and larger contexts
Conversely, how does a failure to use language (s) as vehicle for the promotion of health, education, human rights, etc.,within communities leads to failure in the realisation of these concepts and goals?
Does a national (and/or dominant) language successfully replace EL in promoting concepts and realising material goals, and do communities succeed better with these or with their own (endangered) languages?
Identify alternative approaches which may best articulate the link between EL revitalisation and sustainable development and ensure the latter’s success in different social, economic, ecological and cultural-linguistic contexts.
Experiences of community-based and public institution initiatives that integrate both agendas.
Do some communities knowingly use maintenance and revitalisation of their language(s) in order to reach (local, community) targets in social, political and economic development?
Examples of public institutions which deliberately use endangered (including minority and indigenous) languages for the purpose of guaranteeing greater success in sustainable community, local and national development.
Examples of community-based and public institutions’ initiatives that have successfully integrated different sustainable goals, such as promotion of health, education, human rights, etc., with the promotion of endangered languages.
Future prospects of the 2030 Agenda and the possibilities and challengues of including an 18th linguistic and cultural goal.
Examples of international successes in policy-making, advocacy and promotion of the links between languages (including EL) and sustainable development. These may include noted scholarly publications, reports by UN and Civil Society Organisations, specialised and dedicated UN panels and commissions including findings by Special Procedures (Special Rapporteurs) NGO enquiries.
Examples of campaigns (national or international) aimed at promoting knowledge of the link between language maintenance and revitalisation (M & R) and sustainable development, or of initiatives which reach the same goal in more indirect ways.
Examples of impediments to the understanding and promotion of the link between language and sustainable development. These may include insufficient understanding and promotion of sustainable development in general and of language diversity
Examples of deliberate and/or political and other impediments to the understanding and promotion of the link between language (M & R) and sustainable development. These may include national policies aimed at, or with the effect of, marginalising or repressing endangered, minority and/or indigenous languages.
Examples of cases where such impediments have proven to limit or jeopardise sustainable development. Examples of opposite process.
Designing SDG 18. Proposal for a workable UN programme and document
Importance of Mother Language in learning and contributing to social development. Examples from international programmes. Role of UNESCO and other international institutions
Measures aimed at maintenance and revitalisation of endangered, minority and indigenous languages
Education in Endangered Languages. Measures to introduce learning curricula in community, minority and indigenous languages in national educational programmes
Measures to develop media in EL, minority and indigenous languages
Promotion of SDG 18. What advocacy at international level? Projects and campaigns aimed at UN General Assembly, UN agencies, regional organisations, Civil Society Organisations.
