Policies for Multilingualism on the Internet as a tool to fight social and educational inequality in Argentina

SUSANA FINQUELIEVICH; MARIA BELEN ODENA

Khanty Mansisk

Congreso; Multilingualism in Cyberspace; 2018

IFAP / UNESCO

AbstractThe paper focuses on the importance of policies for linguistic diversity as a one of the main factors to fight social and educational inequality in Argentina. It examines the current policies and initiatives, confronting them with those implemented in Latin America on multilingualism in cyberspace, and the obstacles encountered. According to UNESCO, languages are powerful instruments for preserving and developing culture. Information and communication technologies (ICT) can help not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to increase awareness and transmission of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world, and to motivate solidarity between diverse peoples. However, at present indigenous South American languages are not represented in the digital world. Language presence in cyberspace is insufficient in view of the increased importance of the role of cyberspace for access of indigenous peoples to education and information, to the preservation and strengthening of their own languages and cultures, and the construction of inclusive knowledge societies.The paper tries to find answers for a series of questions: How does linguistic diversity associated with indigenous languages weigh in social, and educational inequality? Which are the ongoing policies and initiatives implemented in the Region on multilingualism using the Internet, both in the media and on education? How has the Internet been used? Which are the obstacles to fully accept multilingualism and to use the Internet to fight social and educational inequality related to indigenous languages? And mainly: are multilingualism policies subject to political decisions in Argentina?This work, based on meta research, focuses on initiatives and Public Policies for Multilingual culture using ICT in Argentina. We have focused on two types of policies: educational, and media. It is interesting to remark that studies on indigenous languages and the Internet in Latin America (particularly in English) may be considered as a vacancy area.