linguistic rights

[John Bowden]

I think you will find what you are looking for in the UNESCO Universal
Declaration on Cultural Diversity, which has a number of clauses concerning
linguistic rights. It's available on the web at

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001271/127160m.pdf

There is another discussion document currently circulating within UNESCO
that is concerned strictly with linguistic diversity, but it has not been
ratified and I'm not sure where you can get a copy.

Hope that's some help
John Bowden.

At 09:28 AM 3/03/2005 +0930, you wrote:
>Hey all,
>
>i was wondering if anyone could help me... is there a UN statement or
>bill-of-rights type thing that talks about linguistic rights?  For
>example, something that says people have the right and freedom to use
>their first language?
>
>if anyone knows anything bout this could they let me know?
>
>(reason being, there are teachers at this community who actively
>discourage students using their own language (a creole, called Kriol)
>in the classroom, amongst themselves.... and i'm rather angry about
>it...)
>
>Greg Dickson
>Linguist
>Ngukurr Language Centre
>PMB 6
>via Katherine  NT  0852
>Ph/Fax: 08 8975 4362
>Email: greg.dickson at kathlangcentre.org.au