VOCES – International Centre for the Study and Teaching of Lesser-Used Languages

On 7 October, 2009, the final day of the Festival of Languages [http://www.festival.uni-bremen.de], the International Centre for the Study and Teaching of Lesser-Used Languages was founded in Bremen/Germany. Dónall Ó Riagáin (Ireland), Steven R. Fischer (New Zealand), Christel Stolz and Thomas Stolz (both Germany) inaugurated CeSTeaLuL – later dubbed VOCES – in a little ceremony which included speeches in Irish and Rapanui. As an academic institution, VOCES is unique globally as it is the first centre devoted exclusively to the less widely spoken languages of the world. Once it is in working conditions, the centre in Bremen will offer opportunities not only for the community of linguists to focus on lesser-used languages in their research. VOCES is also intended as the institution where speech-communities can send representatives to receive adequate training in descriptive, historical and applied linguistics, field methodology, language planning, revitalisation, etc. to enable the speech-communities to take care of their language without the necessity to rely on the expertise of outsiders. Moreover, by language classes, seminars and other events, the centre serves the purpose of giving lesser-used languages more prominence in the general public perception. Thus, VOCES contributes to safeguarding the linguistic diversity of our world.

For further information, contact the director of VOCES: stolz@uni-bremen.de.