Lesser-Used Languages:
Lessons from Comparative Experience

An International Conference

Cardiff University, 1 December 2001

Provisional Programme

The colloquium is inspired by a comparative research project into  ‘Devolution and Decentralisation in Wales and Brittany’, part of the ESRC’s Devolution and Constitutional Change programme. 

The theme of the conference -  Lesser-Used Languages: Lessons from Comparative experience -  is highly relevant in the light of evolving trends in regional governance in Europe and beyond. We will bring together a mixed audience of end-users, researchers and academics in order to promote cross-national learning and exchange.

The holding of such a conference in Cardiff is logical; there has been great international attention devoted to the Welsh model of language management. The choice of our country case studies has been carefully considered to cover a range of comparative challenges for Lesser-Used languages. Within the UK, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have trodden distinctive linguistic paths. What lessons, if any, can Scotland and Ireland learn from the Welsh model of language management?   Is policy transfer desirable or feasible? The model of institutional linguistic expression  has been developed furthest in Canada; we have invited representatives of the English- and French-language speaking communities to reflect upon the strengths, weaknesses and propensity for export of the Canadian model.  The French example is usually considered as one of top-down linguistic conformity. We test this assumption in the light of recent trends in the education, cultural and linguistic planning. In our concluding session, we suggest future orientations for preserving, enhancing and codifying the use of these languages.

The selection of cases thereby covers a broad range of country experiences that can have lessons – positive or negative – for the UK as a whole and between the four nations within the UK. By inviting prominent policy actors in three states (UK, France, Canada) we will encourage cross-fertilisation between these models through promoting actor-based contacts. In its mission to bring together a mixture of end-users and academic experts, the conference thereby lies squarely within the ambition of the ESRC Devolution and Constitutional change programme.

Contributions will address one or more of the following themes:

The conditions of new regional governance in Europe (and beyond)  and the role of lesser used languages therein.

Has the resurgence of lesser-used languages been linked to new identity based forms of regional governance?

Do lesser-used languages pose a threat to the cohesion of unitary states?

Do federal structures flow naturally from affirmative linguistic action?

How can public policies most effectively be adapted to ensure the survival of threatened lesser-used languages?

Are there objective benchmarks?

Should particular institutional forms be encouraged?

Is the most effective form of cross-fertilisation that which flows from actor-based contacts?

The conference will cover a range of comparable country specific experiences, combining generic themes (such as education, linguistic patrimony, benchmarking and affirmative public policy action ) and contextually specific challenges.

Are there negative lessons?

What lies beyond the pale, given national institutional, administrative and cultural characteristics?

What are the dangers with a One Size Fits All policy?

Suitably revised conference contributions will form the basis of a collective book to be edited by Professor Colin Williams and other members of the team. Publishers (University of Wales Press ) have already expressed interest in this proposal.

Provisional Programme

09.00 Arrival and coffee

09.30-10.45 Session One. Restoring Lesser Used Languages in the United Kingdom

Speakers

Pat McAllister, Linguistic Relations Branch, Northern Ireland Assembly

Stephen Povey, Deputy Secretary, Dept of Education, Northern Ireland Assembly

‘A Language Policy for Northern Ireland’

J. Walter Jones, Chief Executive of the Welsh Language Board

‘Devolution and the Welsh Model of Language Management’

TBA. A representative of the Scottish Gaelic-speaking community

 Rapporteur: Colin Williams

 
10.45-11.15 Coffee

11.15-12.30  Canada: managing the bilingual linguistic paradigm

Professor Linda Cardinal, Centre for Governance, Department of Politics, University of Ottawa, Canada

Guy Dumas, Associate Deputy Minister, Language Policy Secretariat of the Government of Quebec

Rapporteur. J. Barry Jones

12.30-14.00 Lunch

14.00-15.15  Rescuing Lesser-Used languages in the Jacobin State. The case of France

Rozenn Milin, Director, TV Breizh  ‘The Breton language and the media: the experience of TV Breizh’

Andrew Lincoln, Head of DIWAN (Breton medium schools association) ‘Lesser used languages and the public education service in France’ (delivered in English)

Rapporteur: A. Cole

15.15 -15.45. Tea

15.45-16.45  Regional language policy management in comparative perspective. Lessons and perspectives

Mairead Nic Craith, University of Ulster, ‘The Celtic languages in Comparative Perspective’.

Colin Williams, Professor of Welsh, University of Cardiff: ‘Concluding remarks’.

17.00 Wine Reception

19.00 Dinner for speakers

For further details contacts Suzi Williams (WilliamsSE6@Cardiff.ac.uk)

at EUROS, PO Box 908,
Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3YG