Date: Mon, 24 Jul 1995 10:32:00 +0100
From: debaron[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UIUC.EDU
Subject: language and legislation conference
Please post or forward this announcement:
"Language Legislation": An International Conference
Organizers:
Dennis E. Baron, English
Eyamba Bokamba, Division of English as an International Language
Braj B. Kachru, Linguistics
Douglas A. Kibbee, French
Dates:
March 28-30, 1996.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will host a conference on
language legislation. A select group of invited speakers from around the
world will address social issues such as community vs. individual rights,
cultural survival, free trade and linguistic issues such as language and
culture, language and power, bilingualism.
Language legislation and the concept of linguistic human rights have
moved to the forefront of national and international news. In the United
States, language legislation has taken the form of the national English
Language Amendment, and a variety of state and local ordinances. In the US,
legal solutions to perceived threats have quickly found their way to the
courts, with appeals leading all the way to the United States Supreme
Court. Many other countries around the globe have erected legal barriers
against the penetration of English or other languages perceived as threats.
These laws often conflict with guarantees of individual human rights,
such as the UN Charter or the D=E9claration des Droits de l'Homme. In the
realm of international law, language protection has colored debate on such
issues as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and has
influenced the structure of international institutions like the European
Community and the United Nations.
For further information, contact:
Douglas A. Kibbee
Language Legislation Conference
Department of French
University of Illinois
2090 Foreign Languages Building/ MC-158
707 South Mathews Avenue
Urbana IL 61801
USA
=46AX: (1) (217) 244-2223
email: dkibbee[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ux1.cso.uiuc.edu
-----------------
Dennis Baron debaron[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]uiuc.edu
Department of English office: 217-333-2392
University of Illinois fax: 217-333-4321
608 South Wright Street home: 217-384-1683
Urbana, Illinois 61801