8th/9th of May 2025: International Conference “Language revitalisation planning: structures and processes”
date: 08.05.2025 - 09.05.2025
Event location: Gründungszentrum “Startblock B2”, Siemens-Halske-Ring 2, 03046 Cottbus/Chóśebuz
Organising Committee
Sorbian Institute, Department for Regional Development and Minority Protection Cottbus/Chóśebuz supported by ZARI (Network for Regional Identity and Language Management), Bautzen/Budyšin
Aim of the Conference
The conference will focus on scientific exchanges with international experts in developing, implementing, and evaluating language planning initiatives for endangered or minority languages in their respective countries in cooperation with state actors and civil society in order to explore the question of how effective, coordinating language planning can be established and organised at a structural level. The conference will compare language planning models alongside their historical contexts of emergence, development processes, methodologies, successes and failures.
The main questions of the conference are:
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of various organisational and decision-making structures in language planning, such as language boards, language commissioners, language agencies, and networks?
- How were these structures established?
- What conditions enable the successful establishment and operation of these structures?
Practical examples will be presented to provide a better understanding of the issues involved.
The conference will be held in English.
The conference presentations will be streamed live (online participation). A link to the live broadcast will follow shortly.
Please see the registration form below the programme on this side.
Looking forward to inspiring talks and lively discussions!
The expert contact persons: Dr. Anastasija Kostiučenko-Kessler & Měto Nowak
The Department for Regional Development and Minority Protection and the ZARI network are supported by the Foundation for the Sorbian People with funds from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community on the basis of a resolution of the German Bundestag.
Programme
Language revitalisation planning: structures and processes
Rěcne rewitalizaciske planowanje: struktury a procese
Thursday, 08.05.2025 – First conference day
08:30 – 09:00 Arrival of the participants at the Gründungszentrum “Startblock B2“, Siemens-Halske-Ring 2, Cottbus/Chóśebuz
09:00 – 10:00 Welcome Address
Opening Remarks:
Lutz Laschewski, Head of the Department for Regional Development and Minority Protection, Sorbian Institute
Hauke Bartels, Director of the Sorbian Institute
Introduction & Overview of the current status of language revitalisation projects for Lower and Upper Sorbian
The situation of Lower Sorbian: Anastasija Kostiučenko-Kessler & Měto Nowak:
Structures and framework of current Lower Sorbian language planning
The situation of Upper Sorbian: Cordula Ratajczakowa & Julian Nyča:
The ZARI revitalization project – goals and approaches
10:00 – 10:45 Panel I Wales
Eleri James: The Welsh Language Commissioner: creating a Wales where people can live in Welsh
Chair: Julian Nyča
10:45 – 11:15 Coffee break
11:15 – 12:00 Panel II Brittany
Talwyn Baudu: Ofis Publik ar Brezhoneg / The Breton Language Office: The Institutionalisation of Language Planning in a Centralised State
Chair: Nicole Dołowy-Rybińska
12:00 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 – 14:15 Panel III Isle of Man
Breesha Maddrell (digitaler Vortrag): The Manx Language Network
Chair: Měto Nowak
14:15 – 15:00 Panel IV Ireland
Rónán Mac Con Iomaire: Language Planning in Ireland: Starting from the Ground Up
Chair: Lutz Laschewski
15:00 – 15:30 Coffee break
15:30 – 16:15 Panel V, Part 1 Comparing structures and processes
Eva Duran Eppler: Language planning processes in the RISE UP case study communities: Aranes, Aromanian, Cornish, Burgenland Croatian and Seto
Chair: Anastasija Kostiučenko-Kessler
19:00 Conference Dinner
Friday, 09.05.2025 – Second conference day
09:30 – 10:15 Panel VI Ladinia
Paul Videsott: Language planning in Dolomitic Ladin: Initiatives, actors, results
Chair: Lutz Laschewski
10:15 – 11:00 Panel V, Part 2 Comparing structures and processes
Stefan Oeter: Language planning as an important component of language protection. Experiences under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
Chair: Měto Nowak
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break
11:30 – 13:00 Lean Coffee: a bridge between theory and practice
Chair: Julija Běrinkowa & Sophie Rädel
13:00 – 13:30 Discussion and outlook
Final Statement: Heiko Marten
Chair: Lutz Laschewski & Cordula Ratajczakowa
13:30 – 14:30 Lunch break
15:30 Language policies and minority politics in practice: Guided walk through Cottbus/Chóśebuz, Měto Nowak