LINGUIST List 12.1556

Wed Jun 13 2001

Jobs: Applied Ling/Lang Description Reseacher, Canada

Editor for this issue: Heather Taylor-Loring <heatherlinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Martha McGinnis, Research for Office of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut, Canada: Government Responses To Langauge Issues

RESEARCH PROJECT

GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO LANGUAGE ISSUES:
INTERNATIONAL EXAMPLES

The Office of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut, Canada, is
offering a contract for a researcher to compile, analyse and report on
information regarding the language policy initiatives of several
governments internationally.

Deadline for applications: June 22, 2001

Purpose of Study

The protection and enhancement of the Inuktitut language is one of the
most pressing issues facing the new Government of Nunavut. While
broad goals have been established in this regard, the government has
yet to develop the tools needed to achieve these targets. At present,
the government is working under the Official Languages Act inherited
from the Northwest Territories at the time of its creation in 1999.
Section 29 of this act requires Nunavut's Legislative Assembly to
review the provisions and operation of the Act during the current
session. This will provide the Legislative Assembly with an
opportunity to re-write the existing language act so that it better
reflects and responds to the language issues within the new territory.

Among its various roles, the Office of the Languages Commissioner of
Nunavut is to provide the Legislative Assembly with recommendations
regarding changes to the Official Languages Act. In order to provide
the Legislative Assembly with the best advice possible, the Office of
the Languages Commissioner will examine actions taken by governments
both within Canada and abroad to protect and enhance various
languages. The countries and regions selected for this study are as
follows:

Basque Country (Spain)
Estonia
Finland
Greenland
Israel
New Zealand

Components

For each jurisdiction, the following information should be compiled:

- Size of language group;
- Legislated language rights*;
- Other legislation/policies that touch upon language
 issues*;
- Implementation/enforcement of language laws and policies;
- Languages used in government services;
- Languages used in writing legislation;
- Policies/legislation regarding the use of languages in
 education;
- Policies/legislation regarding the use of languages in
 the private sector;
- Policies/legislation regarding the use of languages by
 local (municipal) governments;
- Governments' positions on dialectics and issues of
 standardization;
- Government departments responsible for implementing
 language policies;
- Organizations involved in terminology development and
 methods used;
- Language promotion activities; and
- Financial resources allocated for language initiatives.

Additional information that the researcher considers relevant to the
goals of the study can also be included.

Terms of Contract

A preliminary report of the research findings will be submitted to the
Office of the Languages Commissioner by July 15, 2001. It will
include an annotated bibliography of materials that have been examined
as part of the research.

The final report will be submitted to the Office of the Languages
Commissioner not later than August 31, 2001.

The language of the final report shall be English though sources may
be quoted in French or Spanish as well.

The total contract is worth $11,000 CAD (50 days x $220/day).

Proposed Payment Schedule	

$3,000 CAD upon signing of contract
$3,000 CAD upon submission of interim report
$5,000 CAD upon submission of final report

Qualifications Sought

Enrolment in a Master's or doctoral programme in Linguistics,
Political Science, or Public Administration. Candidates with an
appropriate combination of education and work experience will also be
considered.

Candidates should forward a curriculum vitae and two academic
references to:

Office of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut
Box 309
Iqaluit, Nunavut
X0A 0H0

tel: (867) 975-5125
fax: (867) 979-8623
email: langcommgov.nu.ca

For additional information, contact

Chris Douglas
Research Officer
Office of the Languages Commissioner
Box 309
Iqaluit, Nunavut
X0A 0H0

tel: (867) 975-5125
fax: (867) 979-8623
e-mail: cdouglasgov.nu.ca

__________________________________________________


RESEARCH PROJECT

GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO LANGUAGE ISSUES IN CANADA

The Office of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut is offering a
contract for a researcher to compile, analyse and report on
information regarding the language initiatives of the governments of
Canada, Qu�bec, and New Brunswick.

Deadline for applications: June 22, 2001

Purpose of Study

The protection and enhancement of the Inuktitut language is one of the
most pressing issues facing the new Government of Nunavut. While
broad goals have been established in this regard, the government has
yet to develop the tools needed to achieve these targets. At present,
the government is working under the Official Languages Act inherited
from the Northwest Territories at the time of its creation in 1999.
Section 29 of this act requires Nunavut's Legislative Assembly to
review the provisions and operation of the Act during the current
session. This will provide the Legislative Assembly with an
opportunity to re-write the existing language act so that it better
reflects and responds to the language issues within the new territory.

Among its various roles, the Office of the Languages Commissioner of
Nunavut is to provide the Legislative Assembly with recommendations
regarding changes to the Official Languages Act. A comprehensive
examination of how other Canadian jurisdictions have responded to
their own language issues will assist the Languages Commissioner in
providing the Legislative Assembly with the best possible advice.

Components

This study will be focused on the language initiatives of the
governments of Canada, Qu�bec, and New Brunswick. For each
jurisdiction, the following information will be compiled:

- Legislated language rights;
- Other legislation/policies that touch upon language issues 
 (copies of the documents in question should be provided with 
 the final report);
- Policies/legislation regarding the use of languages in
 education;
- Policies/legislation regarding the use of languages by
 municipal governments;
- Policies/legislation covering the use of languages by
 the private sector;
- Government departments responsible for implementing
 language policies;
- Methods by which language laws and policies are enforced;
- Summaries of court challenges to legislation;
- Language requirements, training and bilingual bonuses
 for civil servants;
- Lobby groups established by language communities in the
 four jurisdictions (include contact information);
- Governments' language promotion initiatives;
- Funding allocated for language initiatives since 1970;
 and
- The effectiveness of each government in achieving its
 stated language goals.

Other information that researchers consider relevant to the goals of
the study can also be included.

Terms of Contract

An interim report of the research findings will be submitted to the
Office of the Languages Commissioner by July 15, 2001. It will
include an annotated bibliography of materials that have been examined
as part of the research. The final report will be submitted to the
Office of the Languages Commissioner not later than August 31, 2001.

The final report shall be written in English. French sources should
be quoted in their original language.

The contract is worth a total of $11,000 CAD (50 days x $220/day)

Payment Schedule:

$3,000 CAD upon signing of contract
$3,000 CAD upon submission of interim report
$5,000 CAD upon submission of final report

Qualifications Sought

Enrolment in a Master's or doctoral programme, in Linguistics,
Political Science, or Public Administration. Candidates with an
appropriate combination of education and work experience will also be
considered.

Candidates should forward a curriculum vitae and two academic
references to:

Office of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut
Box 309
Iqaluit, Nunavut
X0A 0H0

tel: (867) 975-5125
fax: (867) 979-8623
email: langcommgov.nu.ca

For additional information, contact

Chris Douglas
Research Officer
Office of the Languages Commissioner
Box 309
Iqaluit, Nunavut
X0A 0H0

tel: (867) 975-5125
fax: (867) 979-8623
e-mail: cdouglasgov.nu.ca

mcginnisucalgary.ca