Importance of recognizing language rights
Most of the international documents guaranteeing language rights that are in force today set out from the premise that language (mother tongue, own language, regional/minority language, etc.) as such, or the total number of languages (linguistic diversity) is an important value in itself and should therefore be preserved (value-based approach). The reason for this is the essential role that language plays in human existence, development and dignity, human thinking and cognition. Language is not merely a means of communication, but also a central element of personal and social identity, the link that binds the individual to his or her community. According to another approach, linguistic diversity leads to conflict, if different language communities have different rights to use their language, and to access power through certain arenas of language use. From this point of view, language conflicts are based on power inequalities, which legal guarantees serve to alleviate (conflict-based approach). The third main line of reasoning starts from the relationship between language rights and human rights. Language rights are a means of access to other human rights and, ultimately, of democratic participation, but they can also be considered human rights themselves: either as second-generation cultural rights or first-generation freedoms (similar to freedom of expression or religion) (human rights approach).