SUMMARY DOCUMENT UNESCO World Atlas of LanguagesUNESCO World Atlas of Languages - Executive summary 2 UNESCO World Atlas of Languages Linguistic diversity exists in a continually changing, dynamic environment: languages develop - and they can generate new dialects; some languages fall into disuse, some evolve or adapt into new forms; yet others may merge, thereby creating new languages. Languages are in perpetual flux, changing over time, as their users themselves (speakers and signers) also change over time. So too, therefore, must the picture we present of linguistic diversity around the world. The World Atlas of Languages (WAL) is an online platform that reflects the dynamism and depth of the global linguistic diversity landscape. It provides accurate, reliable, up-to-date and robust data on the world’s languages. By taking advantage of scientific and technological progress and drawing from data offered by trusted providers, including national governments, academia and language communities, the World Atlas of Languages is able rapidly to capture linguistic diversity shifts. More importantly - and building on the good experiences from the UNESCO Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger of Disappearing published in 1996, 2001 and 2010 - the World Atlas of Languages represents a major step towards a more inclusive, comprehensive, and interdisciplinary understanding of linguistic diversity. Here is how: ~ As its name conveys, the World Atlas of Languages encompasses all the world’s languages, not just those in danger. ~ The World Atlas of Languages ‘upends’ the traditional linguistic diversity view, going beyond languages spoken to also include signed languages, highlighting the value of languages created by and for persons with disabilities. ~ In place of “number of users” and “status”, a much deeper, richer set of 35 descriptors and 2 indicators is offered on each language, for a multi-dimensional perspective on by “whom”, “how,” “what for” and in “which domains,” online and offline, languages are recognized and used. ~ The concept of “endangerment and vitality” is expanded to consider the different places in which a language is used, such that a language may be “safe” in some environments while being “vulnerable,” “endangered” or “not in use” in others. The World Atlas of Languages is a methodology and policy tool which can inform, assist, and support relevant decisions, policy making, and results monitoring. As a fact-based analysis of languages and their specific ecosystems, relying on up-to-date data collected from different sources, it can underpin the development of policies able to protect linguistic diversity. The World Atlas of Languages aims to stimulate research and innovation, towards new language policies, resources and tools, by providing evidence of create concrete actions focused on preserving, revitalizing, and promoting languages, to meet the needs, challenges and aspirations of language users (speakers and signers) around the world. Finally, the World Atlas of Languages offers an open online space for forging new partnerships, collaboration, participation, and knowledge sharing among multiple actors. Users are invited to explore linguistic diversity in its multiple aspects, including diversity, type and affiliation, state and status, users and usage.3 © B ox ed L un ch P ro du ct io ns /S hu tt er st oc k. co m UNESCO World Atlas of Languages - Executive summary UNESCO World Atlas of Languages: towards a comprehensive assessment framework for linguistic diversity The UNESCO World Atlas of Languages provides a new perspective towards a multidimensional approach and allows linguistic diversity to be illustrated in a multidimensional manner. The UNESCO World Atlas of Languages assessment framework builds on a large set of descriptors and indicators. The descriptors not only document general facts about single languages, but also provide information about their status and state, the users and usage, etc. Three initial operational steps were taken to define necessary actions for the proper description, evaluation and safeguarding of languages which are spoken and signed: STEP 1 Collection of relevant facts about a language STEP 2 Description of the present situation of a language at country level STEP 3 Evaluation of the situation of a language in its linguistic ecosphere4 UNESCO World Atlas of Languages - Executive summary The World Atlas of Languages is built on a Descriptive Matrix and Indicator Framework: ~ A Descriptive Matrix (35 descriptors) is applied to document the spatial, temporal, modal, and causal aspects of the reality of each language. ~ Interdependencies between certain descriptors indicate the state of a language. ~ Analysis of the Descriptive Matrix allows us to evaluate the “general and non-country specific” situation of each language. It also provides us with valuable information on language “nativeness”. Furthermore, the Descriptive Matrix reflects the reality of a language and indicates, among other things, both endangerment and dominance (2 indicators), as phenomena graduated on a scale. This is presented in the Indicator Framework: ~ The dominance indicator mainly reflects the situational aspects of functionality and status, while endangerment primarily indicates sustainability and vitality. ~ Dominance correlates with the status and state of a language and thus results from its functional use in (formal) public domains in a state or other administrative unit. The evaluation of endangerment mainly follows the criteria of intergenerational use and transmission which are linked to the assessment of sustainability and vitality. The World Atlas of Languages’ mission is to document the world’s linguistic diversity with the goal of “leaving no one behind and no one outside”, since language matters so much for sustainable development, peacebuilding, and reconciliation in our societies. The World Atlas of Languages structures data around two dimensions: Languages around the world 8,324 languages (spoken and signed) documented by governments, public institutions and academic communities, with approximately 7,000 still in use. Languages in each country 80 linguistic country profiles built on the official information provided by governments, national departments of statistics, public language harmonization and standardization organizations, and higher educational organizations which are mandated to carry out fundamental research and collect official data. In the World Atlas of Languages, a description and situation of each language is presented in a separate “Language window” Langages Countries Languages around the world 8,324 languages (spoken and signed) documented by governments, public institutions and academic communities, with approximately 7,000 still in use. Languages in each country 80 linguistic country profiles built on the official information provided by governments, national departments of statistics, public language harmonization and standardization organizations, and higher educational organizations which are mandated to carry out fundamental research and collect official data.5 UNESCO World Atlas of Languages - Executive summary The World Atlas of Languages offers a new online survey instrument Users of the World Atlas of Languages online platform are either visitors or registered users. Visitors will benefit from exploring the rich dataset available. World Atlas of Languages registered users, in addition, will have the opportunity to submit accurate and solid data on (i) any individual language and (ii) a language in within the context of a particular country/countries, using the online survey instrument built into UNESCO’s World Atlas of Languages. Only three data sources submitted by registered users will be considered: ~ Official data collected by national governments, departments of statistics or other competent national organizations and other intergovernmental bodies mandated to collect data and information on languages used in the country ~ Academic data provided by higher educational organizations, experts, researchers, and language professionals ~ Community data provided by competent language community organizations, NGOs and civil society organizations and other institutions representing language communities. All relevant stakeholders must work together to create synergetic and innovative frameworks and systems of protection, documentation, support and promotion for all languages. 1 Basics Names Codes Size & numbers Location / nativeness Genetic affiliation 2 State Documentation: Materials Documention: Descriptions Graphization & script encoding Asynchronizity Standardization 3 Status Status 4 Users Size & numbers Geographic distribution % of users within total population % of users within reference community Age distribution Generational language use Educational attainment Occupational distribution Language competence % of users with literacy % of digital users 5 Use Sociogeographic dimension Socio-economic dimension Functional dimension Administration Formal education Ethnoculture Public health care Information and cultural production Periodicals Radio Television Digital representation Legal system Priority levels of descriptors/data: high priority/relevance medium priority/relevance low priority/relevanceUNESCO World Atlas of Languages - Executive summary 6 Data collection process for building the UNESCO World Atlas of Languages (2015-2021) The UNESCO World Atlas of Languages is the result of a multi-year effort on three fronts: 1) development of a new methodological framework for assessment of linguistic diversity; 2) the creation of an interactive online platform; and 3) the collection of country-based and language-based data to update and enrich language data sets. Several surveys were carried out to collect country-based data for the World Atlas of Languages, from statistical offices and language institutions in 193 countries. In August 2018, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics launched the Survey of World Languages, as a first step. A regional survey targeting partners in the Arab States was launched in December 2020. Complementary data on basic language descriptors was also collected between August and October 2021. Language-based data was collected with support from academic partners, over the period from May to September 2021, for all documented languages in the world. Academic research also documented the legal status of each language: out of 8,324 languages, 1,412 languages are recognized by national constitutions, laws, and other legal instruments, with 530 languages being legally recognized in more than one country. These rich data sets have already allowed the construction of country linguistic profiles for 80 Member States, with more being developed as additional data is provided. In years to come, UNESCO in cooperation with partners will be enhancing the World Atlas of Languages with additional and updated data. Therefore, new appeals for collection and contribution with language data will be launched in 2022 including in the course of the upcoming International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032). © Z ur ije ta /S hu tt er st oc k. co m7 UNESCO World Atlas of Languages - Executive summary Data Governance UNESCO is in the process of designing a data governance structure to ensure a smooth, timely and efficient linguistic data management process. This will include an International Advisory Committee composed of linguistics experts and representatives from UNESCO Member States. The International Advisory Committee will be mandated to assess existing and data, as well as to provide recommendations on possible applications of datasets. The data management processes should also permit the representatives of UNESCO Member States, including their National Departments of Statistics, higher educational organizations, leading experts in the subject area, civil society, and other public and private partners, to contribute data, ideas, suggestions, news and events to the UNESCO World Atlas of Languages. The need for robust data on languages is higher when considering the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032, which demands evidence-based information to ensure impact of activities contained in its Global Action Plan as well as in partner plans. Unfortunately, data on languages is generally not systematically collected at national levels. Even where it is done, the data collection processes are not structured, poorly coordinated and often fragmented. UNESCO invites its Member States and all relevant stakeholders to strengthen their data collection processes. The Global Call for Language Data “UpData!” will be linked to the upcoming International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032), providing timely and reliable data to support informed policy and decision-making processes. UNESCO will contribute to the implementation of international commitments and be prepared for the evaluation and monitoring of achievements within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Such work will be connected and integrated into the global data processes and relevant services. Moving forward The World Atlas of Languages is a collaborative effort of UNESCO working in close cooperation with Member States, including Departments of National Statistics, national language harmonization and standardization organizations, higher educational organizations -those which have a national mandate and receive national funding to carry out fundamental research and data collection. Efforts will also be made to work with officially recognized civil society organizations and language communities, as well as with private entities. The World Atlas of Languages aims to provide accurate and reliable data on language, which is indispensable in promoting, documenting, and protecting linguistic diversity in our modern and rapidly changing world. Users with various levels of access will be provided with an opportunity to enrich and add to the World Atlas of Languages by submitting data on in general languages and in country, creating events, sharing resources and information about ongoing activities in their neighborhood, city, country, or region, as well as offering feedback and suggestions. Users are invited to consult the UNESCO World Atlas of Languages Terms of Use and Data Privacy Notice. The World Atlas of Languages invites users to register and share information about their work by submitting resources about languages, creating different categories of events, uploading a variety of materials, and sharing information about ongoing initiatives and projects in the field of languages. Starting from 22 November 2021, UNESCO will begin sharing information to the Member States to review the language data published on the website. Access to the World Atlas of Languages website for UNESCO’s Permanent Delegations will be activated from 7 December 2021 to 10 January 2022. The World Atlas of Languages will be available to the public in February 2022. © Z ur ije ta /S hu tt er st oc k. co m© A rt ist de sig n2 9/ Sh ut te rs to ck .c om Scientific partnerGovernmental partner Private partners In partnership with: Contact information: UNESCO 7 place de Fontenoy 75007 Paris France E-mail: [email protected] CI /U AI /2 02 1/ PI /0 1 - C LD 1 52 1. 21