The paper discusses at least two approaches to determine linguistic identity. In
so doing, particular attention is paid to the preparation and implementation of
UNESCO’s IYIL (International Year of Indigenous Languages) 2019 initiative. As
known, given UNESCO’s international prestige, institutions and speech communities
felt stimulated by this IYIL2019 initiative. As a consequence, their focus was
on dealing with those national languages of their countries which in a linguistic
hierarchy are not in a top position (like e.g. English, French, Spanish and more), but
are rated somehow less important by their speakers or officials. It turned out in the
data analysis process for this paper that UNESCO’s conceptualization deficits have
hampered a productive grassroots response such as evidenced in Namibia. With
regard to the development and dissemination of a unified identity concept worldwide
a prominent African colleague points out that in Europe, North America,
China, in many African countries south of the Equator, etc. own umbrella terms
are well established. This implies that UNESCO’s identity related activities have not
so far much contributed to feasible changes.
