For the other two language families, I hope someone else will give you further information.

http://linguistlist.org/issues/19/19-1357.html

1) I think the key to IYL is not relying on UNESCO to carrying the whole burden, but unlike the other concurrent UN “Years,” there is not a structure to work with the UN & UNESCO. I’ve been going as far as to suggest that IYL could be used to develop some sort of structure (association, alliance) of diverse language-related activities – to raise the collective profile, facilitate communication/networking among initiatives that tend to focus (as rightly they should) on their specialized areas of work, and compile a common agenda for languages (to the extent this is possible).

2) In regard to speakers of Chadic languages and their interest in language development, I really would like to keep contact about this. A new PanAfrican Localisation Network project will be starting soon and one of its sub-projects will seek to compile “locale data” for many African languages. Locales are fundamental to full language support on computers and the internet. To do this, there needs to be a mix of ICT experts, language experts (linguists), and native-speakers.

@Roger Blench:
Thanks for your comment. I hope that more reactions will come. You seem to be quite pessimistic concerning the IYL 2008. On the other hand, you mention the strong enthusiasm among Chadic speakers to develop their languages . Let’s hope that they will benefit – somehow – from the initiative and that it won’t be all “clouds of waffle”.

Good luck for your trip to Nigeria and more grease to your elbow!

What are we going to do? Answer, the usual things we do anyway. If you aren’t anyway interested already UNESCO isn’t going to persuade you

Personally, I am completely tired of these sort of initiatives. They are started by people who don’t actually work with endangered languages and pass on by with clouds of waffle. Meanwhile nothing changes on the ground.

As people who are currently working on minority languages in Nigeria will already know, there is a remarkable enthusiasm among speakers, and lots of energy around. The only people who are making use of this are the SIL and they have a limited personnel resource and a rather particular enterprise.

What am I about to do? Well, I am off to Nigeria on Wednesday with the specific goal of contacting as many local groups as possible with a view to finding out what support they need and trying to provide it. What likely institutional and academic support am I likely to get for this enterprise? None.

Thanks,
James