Language institutions are organisations or structures whose fundamental mission is the development of given languages. They carry out many activities including research, standardisation, literacy, formal education, documentation, modernization and promotion of languages, as well as the training of trainers/instructors and authors, among others. But, beyond the linguistic fact itself, they often also hold areas related to languages such as culture, translation and communication. Language institutions target object can be either a specific language or many languages at the same time.

• Specific language institutions

This category of language institutions is made up mainly of community-based organisations like language (and culture) associations, language committees and academies. This is the case, for example, of the Comité de Langue pour l’Étude et la Production des Œuvres Bamiléké-Medumba (CEPOM), the Comité de Langue Beti, the Kom Language Development Committee (KLDC), the Culture et Art Gbaya (CULARTGBA) and the Académie de la Langue Yémba (ACALY). These different organisations are mainly engaged in the development and promotion of languages of their respective community. At the forefront of their primary mission are the activities of training trainers/instructors and authors, normalisation, standardisation, teaching and dissemination of target languages.

• Translanguage Institutions

Translanguage institutions incorporate national or international organisations and structures that are interested in language units/sets. They include structures such as public university institutions, non-governmental organisations and private structures. They are generally focused on scientific research activities, dissemination of target languages, but also, where appropriate, scientific, technical and financial support of other language institutions.