Fwd: Volkswagen Foundation funding for endangered languages

[d_z_o]

FYI...

--- In MINEL at yahoogroups.com, "Don Osborn" <dzo at bisharat.net> wrote:

This funding opportunity may be of interest but it does require that a
German institution take the lead (although that can involve
collaboration with institutions and researchers elsewhere). It does
seem a bit limited of vision of them to frame this only in terms of
documenting languages before they become extinct, and not to mention
revitalization efforts, but maybe those can be included. (Thanks to
Ted Johnson for forwarding mention of this VW Fndn. initiative.)...    DZO


Documentation of Endangered Languages
Next deadline for applications: October 15, 2006
http://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/foerderung/auslandsorientiert/bedrohte-sprachen.html?L=1

Some two thirds of the estimated 6,500 languages still spoken
throughout the world are in danger of disappearing within the next one
to two generations. But if a language dies, this also means that a
piece of the cultural diversity of our world dies with it. The
initiative cannot stop this development, but it can make sure that
testimony to these language cultures, which are mostly only passed on
by word of mouth, is recorded in an electronic archive of endangered
languages before they vanish without trace: by means of audio tape,
video camera, still camera and note pad.

The program funds documentation projects as well as symposia and
summer schools. You will find details regarding the content and
information about how to file an application in the Information for
Applicants, which also includes a checklist.

Background: The main phase of the initiative that started in 2002 was
preceded by a pilot phase in which the researchers of the first eight
documentation projects together with the "technicians" around Peter
Wittenburg from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in
Nijmegen developed a number of standardizations of a technical,
juridical-ethical and methodological-linguistic nature. This central
database project trod new ground in terms of the methods used; it
constitutes the binding framework for the individual documentation
projects.

--- End forwarded message ---