MINEL - "maternal, indigenous, national & ethnic languages" / "minority & endangered languages"- considers development and revitalization of languages around the world.

It is reckoned that there are ~6000 natural languages, all of which are MINELs on some level. A few of these also serve as languages of wider communication (LWCs, like English) or linguae francae, but this group is less concerned with that role - or the role some also play as "official languages" - than their roles as first languages and/or languages of heritage. This group is also intended to give special attention to what are described as "less widely spoken languages" or "lesser used languages."

MINEL celebrates linguistic diversity in a spirit of unity and mutual appreciation among peoples. It is established with the recognition that practical efforts to develop particular languages for particular communities can benefit from exchange of news, experience and views with others working in different contexts.