CED

Documentation and
information

Photo by: Gabriela Skonieczna

The Centre for Research and Documentation on World Language Problems (CED) has advanced the scholarly study of interlinguistics, language policy and linguistic justice since 1952. Through journals, conferences and grants, CED supports researchers and language activists working towards more just and inclusive transnational communication. While Esperanto remains our primary working language and scholarly focus, our activities encompass the study of all aspects of language planning and language use in a multilingual world.

Scope of Activity of CED

CED’s core activities encompass the following fields:

Research support

Financial and practical support for researchers working on interlinguistics, language policy and linguistic justice.

Publications

Journals, newsletters and a book series to advance the fields of study we cover.

Events

In-person and online conferences to disseminate the latest findings among researchers.

Public engagement

Promotion of linguistic justice amongst Esperanto speakers and the justice values of Esperanto among scholars.

Our Three Core Fields of Interest

Interlinguistics

Esperanto as a phenomenon has been directed by linguistic, communicative, social, political and historical influences. Esperanto Studies seeks to understand these influences, also exploring how the language and its community continue to develop in response to global developments and technological factors. Esperanto is also studied by interlinguistics, which was conceived as the science of “artificial” or “planned” languages – primarily those intended for international communication, but also including language projects based on philosophical principles and languages created for novels and films.

Language Policy

Language policy and planning (LPP) studies deliberate interventions in the social functions and structure of languages, primarily by public organisations, to solve communication problems. CED played a key role in the emergence of LPP as a field of research, partly influenced by experiences with Esperanto. Particularly important in the development of this field is La Monda Lingvo-Problemo (later Language Problems and Language Planning), the pioneering journal in the field. This field remains a strategically important part of CED's remit.

Linguistic Justice

Linguistic justice approaches the question of how to fairly distribute the burdens and benefits of linguistic diversity in multilingual societies and international contexts. When states or international organisations choose which languages to use, they influence who can participate, who pays the costs of translation and learning, and whose voices are heard. In this field, CED encourages debates on how to measure and achieve more just language arrangements across the world – including the potential role of planned languages in these efforts.

Nitobe-Simpozio 2023