The NPLD acts to share best practice in language planning and to set up joint, funded language projects between its members. It means that the Occitans, for example, are able to work together with world leading language planning experts from Wales or Catalonia, for example. In addition, it will represent Less Widely Used Language (LWUL) speakers at the EU level ensuring that LWUL issues are addressed.
The NPLD came about from the collective work of the language planning boards of Ireland, Wales, Catalonia, the Basque Country, Scotland, Galicia, Swedish Finns, coming together and deciding to share best practice. Furthermore, it reflects the new political scenario in Europe. Previously LWUL work was performed by Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Now many language communities have autonomy and a government, enabling them to institutionalise their language regeneration effort. The NPLD reflects this political change. It is not an NGO but largely governmental, composed of member states and autonomies. This means that the NPLD has the political power and the budget that go with being in government. Furthermore, the NPLD will be representing Europe's autochthonous languages, working for linguistic rights and meaningful linguistic diversity.
Why join the NPLD?
- To benefit from, and to share, best practice and expertise in language planning with member state and autonomous government language departments, universities and expert NGOs.
- To benefit from and participate in language projects that directly help your language(s).
- To have representation at the EU level on any political issue that affects your language.
- To have a monitoring service at the EU level of all relevant legislation and funding proposals which may affect your language.
- The NPLD will be applying for EU funds for language projects in which people in your language community may want to participate.
- At the NPLD we want to find out what you want for your language, we will then seek to provide and advise on tailor made activities and developments to promote and strengthen your language.
- 7. Most smaller language communities will find it impossible to access EU funding on their own because the thresholds required (co-funding etc) are too high and designed for larger languages and institutions. The NPLD acts in the spirit of solidarity, it gives you instant partners and a network so that you can set up the language project that you want to do that best benefits your language. Some languages don't need a multi-million euro project, just some teaching materials. Because the NPLD has its own budget as well as EU money it means that we can facilitate small, directly funded projects. We are lobbying to change the lack of direct funding at the EU level, but it will take time.
NPLD at work
We've only just started, but work revolves around the following:
- We will be continuously applying for EU funds for joint language projects. These language projects will be hosted, creating a project manager post with a NPLD member. Project work is split between NPLD partners, employing project managers, engaging in research and trialling. Thematic areas at the moment are Motivation to learn, pre-school, media, ICT, health, youth.
- Lobbying in the EU. Keeping less widely used language issues on the agenda in the European Parliament, the Commission and EU Council. Subjects include linguistic equality and rights. E.g. in the case of Inari Sami and Breton, they are endangered, and the difficulties faced by small language communities in that they are not able to apply for EU funds because the thresholds for application are set too high.
- Monitoring all relevant EU proposals and legislation of possible benefit to NPLD members.
- Advising EU institutions on language policy regarding LWULs.
- Sharing best practice comes about within the language projects as the partners share with the host, e.g Wales and Ireland with Brittany, and at the meetings and in joint research.
Costs
NPLD Membership fees are set at two levels - Steering Committee membership and Associate Membership. Charging a membership fee makes the NPLD more independent and enables the network to carry out self funded projects and activities that meets the priorities of its own members. For more details of the membership fees, please contact the Secretariat.