A web-based archive, launched this week, is to document, protect
and support the more than 100 languages spoken in one of Europes
most diverse cities. Professor Yaron Matras from The University
of Manchester says the site will for the first time provide
detailed information on Manchesters diverse linguistic culture.
Languages spoken in Manchester include Yoruba, Urdu, Yiddish,
Kurdish, Romani, Aramaic, Armenian, French, Punjabi, Bengali,
Somali and Polish. Project co-organiser Professor Matras, who is
based at the School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures,
said: Around two thirds of Mancunian schoolchildren are
bilingual - a huge figure which indicates just how precious its
linguistic culture is. This initiative will encourage
communities to maintain their heritage languages at home and in
their businesses without being compromised by the ever-present
English. Gathering information about multilingualism will also
help local authorities and services to take informed decisions
about policies and community n