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| AdminHistory | Linguistics Minorities Project was based at the University of London Institute of Education from September 1979 to April 1983 and funded by the Department for Education and Science. In January 1981 the team of five researchers were joined by the Language Information Network Co-ordination (LINC) Project whose work was funded until the end of 1984 by the Commission of European Communities. The overall aim of the project was to analyse the changing patterns of bilingualism in several regions in England. The research was carried out amongst children, young people and adults both in and out of school. The Project collaborated with Cambridgeshire, Coventry, Bradford, Haringey, Waltham Forest, Brent and Hounslow Local Education Authorities (LEAs). Research approaches included sociolinguistic surveys and more detailed studies of patterns of language use and language attitudes. Overall the LMP aimed to develop and assess varied methodologies for the study of the processes of language change and shift. With the associated projects it intended to make a major contribution to thinking within the area of inter-cultural education, with particular reference to language education.
Associated projects:
The Adult Language Use Survey was undertaken as part of the Linguistics Minorities Project. It aimed to provide an account and analysis of the changing patterns of bilingualism in several regions of England, and to develop and assess varied methodologies for the study of the processes of language change and shift. It was funded by the DES. The Economic and Research Council funded the Community Languages and Education Project (1983-1985), the major task of which was the second stage analysis of the ALUS data. It was based in Coventry, Bradford and London (mainly Haringey and Tower Hamlets). The Coventry Languages Project started working in Coventry, June 1980, to study the different languages in the city. The aim of the project was to find out how many people are using and learning different languages, where and when they use them and how they feel about their future; as well as the educational issues. It later came under the work of the Community Languages Education Project.
Schools Language Survey project was originally developed by the Linguistics Minority Project and was designed to assist local education authorities to document the range of linguistic diversity amongst pupils in their schools, to plan systematic support, and to make these languages more widely available to their bilingual pupils. It was first administered by the LMP/LINC teams during 1980 and 1981 with 5 LEAs - Peterborough Division of Cambridgeshire, Coventry, Bradford, Haringey and Waltham Forest. By 1982 draft guidelines were in place and Brent and Hounslow were the first LEAs to use them. It became apparent there was a need to broaden the Survey and, from January 1984 until June 1985, the project was attached to the ESRC-funded Community Language and Education Project.
The Secondary Pupils Surveys allowed a more detailed look at the language use and perception of language among secondary school children.
The LMP also collaborated with the National Council for Mother Tongue in the preparation of a Mother Tongue Teaching Directory Survey collecting information on the exisiting provision of minority language teaching
The Children's Language Project came about in response to the growing interest among primary teachers in the diversity of language experiences that children are able to bring into the classroom. It was the result of the Language Information Network Co-ordination (LINC) of the Linguistic Minorities Project and the Schools Council Mother Tongue Project. |