NitoBe.info
Title
Nitobe: / Ĉefpaĝo
Description
Goals and principles
The Nitobe Centre for Language Equality seeks to raise the level and intensity of public and political debate over language policy in a unifying Europe, with a view to developing a common, constructive, realistic language policy framework that would balance the protection and celebration of linguistic diversity with the need for effective, high-quality communication amongst all the citizens of the EU.
The Centre was inspired by a conference series (the Nitobe Symposium) organized in the years 1996-2005 by the Centre for Research and Documentation on World Language Problems. These conferences brought together activists, academics, bureaucrats and politicians to examine the linguistic dimensions of European integration and globalization. The fourth Symposium (July 30 - August 1, 2005, in Vilnius, Lithuania) drew particular attention to the need for broader and more informed discussion of issues of language and communication in all of the member states of the EU.
The Nitobe Centre combines multilingual web technology with a European-wide network of volunteers to facilitate sharing of ideas, information, and initiatives on a wide range of issues relating to language diversity and communication. As far as possible, given limited resources, the Centre tries to provide a model of effective interlingual collaboration. Contributions in all European languages, official or not, are encouraged, and are made available to users of other languages through translation. Many international activities are planned and coordinated through the neutral language Esperanto. The Centre as a whole does not support or advance any particular policy measure, but it is committed to open and informed discussion, exploration, and advocacy of alternatives to present practice on the part of its members.
Languages
English
Logos
