Topic: Preservation of Endangered Languages
Country: Senegal
Delegate Name: Brielle Ashford
School: Roeper School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Senegal position papers GLIMUN 2013 committees
Hello fellow delegates, honorable chair,
Senegal is thrilled to be here addressing the pressing problem of endangered languages. Familiar to the problem ourselves, Senegal is home to thirty-six recognized languages, with six designated as official national languages. However, most of these other thirty languages are poorly known outside of the ethnic groups in which they are used, and many are uncodified. Without the research necessary to keep these languages alive, they do, sadly, slip out of existence. Senegal’s language policy based on the Constitution of 1990 is:
A)To promote the MAIN NATIONAL LANGUAGES into the languages of culture
B)To maintain FRENCH as an official language and language of international communication. The Constitution of January 7, 2001, Article 1 (par’g 2) officially recognized:
"The official Language of the Republic of Senegal is French. The national languages are Djola, Malinke, Pulaar, Serer, Soninke, Wolof and other national languages to be codified."
Senegal believes that the crucial step of education must be taken in order to preserve these and smaller languages. A policy for developing orthographies for Senegalese languages as well as creating an academy for these languages are considerable as well as beneficially progressive steps in the revitalization of these languages as far as Senegal is concerned, as well as the revitalization of other unknown languages in other nations across the globe. These crucial changes have already been implemented in Senegal, and because of its progress, Senegal believes it to be necessary to implement these changes in other nations as well.
Senegal also believes it would be beneficial to encourage nations to begin to record, codify, and encourage the use of smaller languages in addition to whatever dominant language is used in education. Also, to draw attention to the peril that many languages face, for the UN to sponsor some sort of festival or “endangered languages recognition week” to go along with these more specific additions. Senegal believes this would be a positive and engaging way to get the public in a variety of nations involved in saving their neighbors’ native languages.
Senegal is greatly looking forward to working with fellow delegations to solve this issue.
