Translation and Linguistic Rights were formally constituted as a committee subject within International PEN in 1978 as a response to the endangered status of many of the world’s languages of lesser currency. The functions of the relevant committee include the promotion of linguistic and cultural diversity worldwide, literary translation and other activities which affirm the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights which seeks to protect linguistic freedom.

Under its Diversity project www.diversity.org.mk, the Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee has developed a sub-project entitled Endangered Languages which focuses on marginalised and endangered languages generally, in conjunction with organisations such as the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages www.eblul.org and the Unesco Clearing House for Literary Translation www.unesco.org/culture/lit.

The Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee of Scottish PEN promotes, in the first instance, work written in the three historical languages of Scotland, Gaelic, Scots and English as well as work in migrant languages. In 1987, Scottish PEN proposed at the International PEN Congress that the organisation take up the defence of marginalised languages and the proposal, in a modified form combined with a similar proposal from the Catalan PEN Centre, culminated in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights.

Scottish PEN is represented on the Cross-Party Groups in the Scottish Parliament for Gaelic and Scots.

Chaidh Eadar-theangachadh agus Còraichean Cànain a thoirt a-steach gu foirmeil mar chuspair comataidh aig PEN Eadar-nàiseanta ann an 1978 mar fhreagairt air cànanan iomallaichte an t-saoghail a bhith ann an cunnart. Am measg nan uallachaidhean a tha air a’ chomataidh seo tha eugsamhlachd cànain agus chultarail a chur air adhart air feadh na cruinne, eadar-theangachaidhean de litreachas an latha a tha ann an-diugh agus obair eile a chuireas taic ris an Dearbhadh mu Chòraichean Cànain na Cruinne aig a bheil e mar amas saorsa chànanach a dhìon.

Fon tionnsgnadh aige Diversity www.diversity.org.mk tha obair air a cur ri chèile aig a’ Chomataidh air a bheil Endangered Languages a sheallas ri cànanan iomallaichte agus cànanan a tha ann an cunnart ann an co-bhann ri eagrachaidhean mar Biùro nan Cànanan Beaga agus Unesco.

Bidh Comataidh Eadar-theangachaidh agus Còraichean Cànain na h-Alba a’ cur, sa chiad dol-a-mach, saothair sgrìobhte air adhart ann an trì cànanan dùthachasach na h-Alba, Gàidhlig, a’ Bheurla Ghallda agus a’ Bheurla fhèin a thuilleadh air stuth ann an cànanan a thàinig a-steach dhan dùthaich rud beag na bu ghiorra air ais. Ann an 1987, mhol PEN na h-Alba gun dèanadh an t-eagrachadh cànanan iomallaichte a dhìon agus mar thoradh air a’ mholadh sin, a chaidh atharrachadh a rèir molaidh car coltach ris a chuir Ionad Chatalonia a-steach, chaidh an Dearbhadh mu Chòraichean Cànain na Cruinne a chur an altaibh a chèile.

Tha Scottish PEN na riochdaire air a’ Bhuidhinn ann am Pàrlamaid na h-Alba a bhios ag obair às leth na Gàidhlig agus na Beurla Gallda.