Education

How can the diversity of the world’s languages – particularly minority, indigenous and endangered languages – be systematically documented and protected?

The new ‘Documentation Framework for Linguistic Diversity’ offers a standardised, policy-oriented approach to this end. Through a combination of descriptive matrices, indicators of vitality and endangerment, and practical case studies (including examples from Mexico, Ghana and Austria), the framework establishes a sound scientific basis.

What makes the framework so groundbreaking?

• Holistic approach: It combines linguistic data with socio-political concepts and a clear link to human rights as well as UN and UNESCO conventions.
• Common methodology: Governments, research institutions and communities are provided with a shared vocabulary. This makes it possible to directly compare language situations across regions and time periods.
• Evidence-based policy: The aim is to support targeted, accountable and effective measures for language planning and revitalisation worldwide.

A comprehensive glossary also ensures that all technical and legal terms can be applied consistently.

This is a crucial step towards actively safeguarding our planet’s linguistic heritage for the future.

Downloads

• FINAL_OEUK_Documentation_Framework_for_Linguistic_Diversity.pdf 9 MB (pdf)
  Austrian Commission for UNESCO (Ed.): Documentation Framework for Linguistic Diversity. Vienna, 2026. ISBN: 978-3-902379-38, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18618404