Equal voice

Lena Huss of the centre for multi-ethnic research at Uppsala University, Sweden, has started a network for research on minority languages.

The network's website lists 40 names of institutions and creates contact and debate between minority language researchers. Two new laws strengthening the position of minority languages took effect in Sweden on April 1. They give residents in the north of the country the right to use Sami, Finnish or Meankieli (a local Finnish dialect) in connection with local authorities, care for the elderly, the courts and in pre-school classes.

Details: www.multietn.uu.se