Create new fluent speakers? | Improve community access? | Support traditional activities?
Train teachers? | Support community identity?

There are many potential goals that might motivate language documentary work, and the kind of work that's most important for your community will depend on your goals. Consider goals in the near, mid and long terms.

• You might prioritize work that will directly benefit the creation of new, fluent speakers (such as immersion instruction, mentor-apprentice programs, language nests);
• work that supports improved community access to language materials (such as the creation of web- or physical language resource centers and archives);
• work that supports traditional activities (such as lessons related to particular ceremonies, life-ways, arts, etc.);
• work that supports the training and certification of language teachers (school-based programs that meet local certification requirements);
• and/or work that supports community identity needs (such as creating signage, place naming, recording and sharing family and local histories).

You may have other goals that aren't listed here, and new goals may emerge as you do the work! It is good practice to write out the goals of your language program and how a language documentation project will help to achieve those goals. If you are unsure of your goals and type of documentation project, this is okay. Have discussions with your language committee if you have one, other communities doing similar work, or reach out to us with questions. At the end of this module, there are resources for support.

Below are two more examples of language initiatives.