Contested Languages

Welcome to the website of the International Research Network on Contested Languages at Bangor University. The aim of this research network is to harness interdisciplinary expertise to research, advise on and explore the issues surrounding contested languages, particularly their maintenance, development and recognition.

What are Contested Languages?

Contested languages are languages which are sufficiently linguistically different from the main language of the country where they are spoken to be categorised as separate languages, but have not gained official language status, often being classified as “dialects” or “patois”. Most contested languages are also endangered languages, and as such they are listed in the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in danger, published in 2010.

Some contested languages count millions of speakers- yet these speakers do not have access to education, services or media in the language - this may be because of a variety of historical, political or economic reasons.

Visitors

For advice on any issue regarding contested languages, whether your interests are academic, business, media or political, please contact us.