2008: International Year of Languages Activities Report

The important mobilization raised by the International Year of Languages (IYL) proves that languages and multilingualism are a vital item on the international agenda, at both the governmental and non-governmental level.

Civil society demonstrated unexpected vitality and responsiveness during the Year. In many cases, civil society was able to act more quickly than institutions and governments, with innovative views that revealed new trandisciplinary areas of action.

Accurate measurement of sustainable effects of the IYL, notably on national language policies implementation in all relevant domains (education, culture, media and administration etc.), will require an in- dept assessment throughout 2009, 2010 and 2011. To this end, a series of monitoring tools should be created, based on consolidated methodologies. Fund-raising and research will be a key factor in this regard. The Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger is certainly a good practice that will serve as a source of inspiration for the elaboration of international monitoring instruments.