RNLD Rationale Goals Activities Mailing List FAQ Flier Convenors Advisory Panel WIKI email: |
RNLD: Rationale The maintenance and transmission of cultural and biological diversity is crucially linked to the maintenance of linguistic diversity. The task of maintaining indigenous languages is multifaceted, with activities including language documentation, literature production, education (language nests, school and community language programs), archiving data, development of specialist tools, and training at all levels of people involved in language maintenance activities. These wide-ranging activities have by and large been developed and undertaken on the basis of interests and needs identified by individuals, communities and organisations. This has seen exciting initiatives launched and comprehensive expertise acquired in all facets of language revitalisation and maintenance. However, to date there has been very little pooling of expertise, and similar information requests and problems have been faced by those wanting to engage with indigenous languages at the local level. As each practitioner has varying levels of expertise related to the type of language work they have experienced, a need has emerged for sharing ideas and techniques to promote good methodologies which result in more productive outcomes for speakers and practitioners.
It is within this scenario that a Resource Network for Linguistic Diversity is being developed as a peak body with a broader focus than any of the individual activities or programs. The need for a body such as this has been apparent for some time - to target a comprehensive approach to language maintenance, develop a network between language maintenance practitioners, and support linguistic diversity by maintaining a website of resources, together with occasional symposia and conferences in the region |