Kwèyans+épi+Déklawasyon

=Kwèyans Lenngwistik èk Déklawasyon Linivèsel Dwa Lenngwistik = =Linguistic Creed and the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights=

[|SIL Linguistic Creed (Benjamin Elson)]

Benjamin F. Elson, September, 1987

We believe that language is one of God's most important gifts to man, and of all human characteristics, language is the most distinctly human and the most basic. Without language, culture and civilization would be impossible.

We also believe that any language is capable of being a vehicle for complicated human interaction and complex thought, and can be the basis for a complex culture and civilization.

Therefore, all languages deserve respect and careful study.

As the most uniquely human characteristic a person has, a person's language is associated with his self-image. Interest in and appreciation of a person's language is tantamount to interest in and appreciation of the person himself.

All languages are worthy of preservation in written form by means of grammars, dictionaries, and written texts. This should be done as part of the heritage of the human race.

Every language group deserves to see its language in print and to have some literature written in it.

Minority language groups within a larger nation deserve the opportunity of learning to speak, read, and write the national language.

[|Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights] (see pdf version [|here] and [|here])

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF LINGUISTIC RIGHTS

PRELIMINARIES PREAMBLE PRELIMINARY TITLE Concepts Articles 1-6

TITLE ONE General Principles Articles 7-14

SECOND TITLE Overall linguistic régime __Section I - Public administration and official bodies__ Articles 15-22 __Section II - Education__ Articles 23-30 __Section III - Proper names__ Articles 31-34 __Section IV - Communications media and new technologies__ Articles 35-40 __Section V - Culture__ Articles 41-46 __Section VI - The socioeconomic sphere__ Articles 47-52

ADDITIONAL DISPOSITIONS First-Third FINAL DISPOSITIONS First-Second

Barcelona, June 1996