Institutions
- Institutions working with vernacular languages can prove very beneficial, and Omar (1976), for example, considers a central language centre neces- sary at the University of Malaya to coordinate the courses and the different needs of the various faculties where Bahasa Malaysia is being taught. The Algemiene Fryske Underrjocht Kommisje in Leeuwarden (Netherlands) produces excellent materials for Frisian classes in school. However, institu- tions can also have a negative effect and stultify private enterprise, as laymen and teachers may refuse to show any initiative, arguing that the staff of the institutions are paid to do the work and not the laymen. This has the danger in a minority language movement of reducing the active members to the "professionals" (i.e. those paid to work with the language), and taking away the grass roots essential to a successful movement. Similarly, if the institution is not recognised by the language community, it might do some harm. In NF, for example, there seems to be the feeling that a person wins respect by being proficient in his own profession, e.g. as a teacher, farmer or business man. If he then also works with Frisian, this is applauded and others will follow. A person, however, who earns his money by working with Frisian alone seems not to be considered to be making a useful contribution to society, and thus will not rank very high in the community's esteem.