Vision
A Guyana where all native languages are thriving, valued, and spoken and written with pride, fostering unity in diversity and preserving cultural heritage.
The Guyanese Languages Unit (GLU) is currently within the International Centre of Excellence for Modern and Indigenous Languages, Literature and Linguistics.
The founding principles of the GLU are set out in The Charter for Language Policy and Language Rights in the Creole Speaking Caribbean.
The GLU is dedicated to the mission of the University of Guyana: “to discover, generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge of the highest standard for the service of the community, the nation, and of all mankind within an atmosphere of academic freedom that allows for free and critical inquiry.” (University of Guyana Academic Board, 2001)
Mission
To protect and promote Guyana's native languages by raising awareness, delivering educational programmes, supporting communities, and providing translation services, ensuring these languages thrive for future generations.
Our activities currently fall into three broad areas:
- Advocacy: Public education about Guyana’s native languages, to combat negative stereotypes about local languages
- Language revitalisation: Supporting and encouraging individuals and communities to speak their endangered languages at home and in other social domains to ensure the languages’ survival
- Translation and Interpretation work: Translating documents and other content into Guyanese indigenous languages and Creolese for public and private entities and for all types of media
Programmes and Courses offered by the GLU:
- Certificate in Dual Language/Multilingual Practice in Education Programme