How a Global Project is Tackling and Exploring Language Inequality

Language shapes how we connect, how we work, and how we live. But what happens when your language is seen as less valuable? That’s the question Franziska and Flor are tackling through an ambitious EU-funded initiative called ReDes_Ling, a global project focused on reducing language inequality.

Franziska, a familiar voice to listeners of Radio ARA, is leading Luxembourg’s contribution to the project. She’s joined this month by Flor, a researcher from Argentina’s University of San Martín, where she works closely with Chinese migrant communities. Together, they're part of a multi-country effort that includes partners in Spain, Denmark, Colombia, Mexico, and beyond.

The project is about more than just language, it's about access. “Language inequality isn't just one thing,” Franziska explains. “It’s everything from how kids succeed in school, to how migrants navigate hospitals, to whether indigenous languages are seen as valuable at all.”

Flor adds that in Argentina, indigenous and migrant communities often face barriers simply because their languages aren’t part of the official system. “You can’t go to a hospital or school if you don’t speak Spanish,” she said. “And that makes people feel excluded, like they’re not part of society.”

But the goal isn’t to reject national languages. It’s to expand inclusion. “Yes, some standardisation is necessary,” Flor explained. “But it should never come at the cost of excluding others.”

So how do you reduce language inequality in a world built on dominant languages? That’s what Franziska and Flor are exploring during their time in Luxembourg. Their current focus is on communication technologies. They look at how tools like radio, social media, and even AI can make information accessible in multiple languages.

Radio ARA has been leading by example. What began during the COVID-19 pandemic as a response to urgent gaps in public information has since grown into a permanent multilingual programming platform. “Back then, we realised many people weren’t getting updates—because they didn’t speak Luxembourgish, French, German, or English,” Franziska said.

Now, the station runs daily shows in 17 different languages, from Arabic and Ukrainian to Chinese and Albanian. “It’s about giving communities both access and representation,” she said.

And the tech side doesn’t stop at radio. The team is exploring AI-driven transcription tools developed at the University of Luxembourg, and how social media platforms can better serve multilingual users. The hope is that these innovations can be scaled and adapted globally.

For both Franziska and Flor, it comes back to dignity and identity. “All languages are equal,” Flor said. “It’s not about the language itself, it’s about who is being heard.”