Curated theme: Possible source of conflict between the SDGs and language maintenance
Language maintenance, for example in the form of language revitalization, is an important tool to limit or reverse language endangerment. This is generally a positive thing as languages, cultures and identities are preserved. However, the act of maintaining a language can cause conflicts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN). Some possible sources of conflict between the SDGs and language maintenance can be found in the following pages.
Quality education
Quality of education or access to it might decrease for minority speakers because of language revitalization programs
E.g. because of lack of subject-specific terminology, inadequate teaching materials in the minority language, or exclusion from teaching of certain subgroups of the community
- Sustainable Development Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
- Language Revitalization
- Goals of Revitalization
Well-being
Mental wellbeing of communities might suffer from inappropriate language maintenance approaches
- Sustainable Development Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
- Goals of Revitalization
- Approaches to Language Endangerment
Gender equality
Gender equality might be violated by revitalizing and reproducing outdated language biases
- Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Equality
Equality of diverse communities might be reduced by strengthening minority languages
E.g. because of growing language barriers between majority and minority speakers, or othering of the minority community
- Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
- The Sociocultural Ecology of Language
Climate
The climate might be negatively impacted by linguists travelling for language maintenance programs
- Sustainable Development Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
- Sustainability in Linguistics
negative ansicht von minority languages wird wieder gestärkt, increase of language barriers --> keine gleichen goals, wieder höhere inequality (goal 10)
schlechter digitaler support für revitalisierte sprachen, ausschluss aus gesellschaft, medizinische unterstützung, public administration
language endangerment
approaches to l e
langugage revitalization
goals of revitalization
language doc and descri
10
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