Becoming a nation of readers in East Timor: language policy and adult literacy development in a multilingual context
Becoming a nation of readers in East Timor: language policy and adult literacy development in a multilingual context. NWO-WOTRO Integrated Programme (2009-2012). Project leader: Prof.dr Sjaak Kroon (Tilburg University).
Project data
| Full title | Becoming a nation of readers in East Timor: language policy and adult literacy development in a multilingual context | |
| Duration | 2009-2012 | |
| Nature | NWO-WOTRO Integrated Programme | |
| Project leader | Prof.dr Sjaak Kroon (Tilburg University) | |
| Project members | Prof.dr Benjamin Ajaúro Corte-Rêal (Universidade National de Timor-Leste)
Dr. Estevão Cabral (Tilburg University) Dr. Aone van Engelenhoven (Leiden University) Drs. Danielle Boon (Tilburg University) Edegar da Conçeicão Savio (Tilburg University) Dr. Jeanne Kurvers (Tilburg University) Dr. Paulo Seixas (Universidade Fernando Pessoa) Prof.dr Marylin Martin-Jones (University of Birmingham) |
Project description
This multidisciplinary project investigates adult literacy development in East-Timor as related to the country’s language and literacy policies.
Study 1 evaluates the already running adult literacy programs in East-Timor’s official languages Tetum and Portuguese. This is done through a nation-wide literacy survey on the effectiveness of these programs, and a sociolinguistic-ethnographic case study on becoming and being literate in Portuguese and Tetum.
Study 2 is about two of East-Timor’s national languages, Fataluku and Baikenu. A language policy study investigates how Fataluku and Baikenu are transformed from oral endangered languages into written languages and a sociolinguistic-ethnographic case study investigates the literacy attitudes and practices of the community, including the possibilities of adult-literacy programs in these languages.
Study 3 is a critical historical study investigating language and literacy policy developments and discourses about adult literacy in East-Timor from Portuguese occupation until Independence.