Interactive Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger of Disappearing Online

Book excerpt: After two print editions of the UNESCO atlas of the world's languages in danger of disappearing (1996 and 2001), the information collected on a large number of endangered languages in all parts of the world is now available online starting with the map of the African continent. The online edition has been developed as an interdisciplinary initiative (Culture Sector, Communication and Information Sector), in the framework of the Endangered languages and Multilingualism in Cyberspace programmes of UNESCO. The main objectives of the online Atlas are to: contribute to the safeguarding of languages in danger of disappearing with a view to contribute to the preservation of the world's linguistic and cultural diversity ; share knowledge on endangered languages through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs); promote public awareness and international debate concerning languages in danger of disappearing through the development of an interactive on-line tool; and foster intellectual cooperation with local, regional, national and international organizations in order to combine efforts to promote and preserve the world's endangered languages.