Events

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2019 the International Year of Indigenous Languages to raise awareness of the crucial role languages play in the daily lives of people not only to communicate and educate, but also as a repository for identity, cultural history, traditions and memory. This exhibition highlights these significant roles through stories of […]

Building on the legacy of the IYIL2019 and as follow up to a decision on United Nations General Assembly (Ref.: A/C.3/74/L.19/Rev.1), UNESCO and the Government of Mexico, in cooperation with several national, regional and international partners, are organizing a High-level event “Making a decade of action for indigenous languages” on the margins of the International Congress om Endangered Languages from 25 to 26 February 2020 in Mexico City, Mexico. The High-level event will conclude the IYIL2019 with a comprehensive review of the outcomes, lessons learnt on the impact and provide concrete recommendations for the preparatory and transitional process of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.

Feb 19, 2020 INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY CSULB Linguistics Student Association (LSA) and Linguistics Department at California State University Long Beach celebrate Linguistic Diversity          10:00 AM: 3:00 PM :          Speakers’ Platform For details about the program, refer to the link below: President of Linguistic Student Association andie.niederecker@student.csulb.edu SLA’S Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/csulb.lsa/

This is the first time Disney dubbed one of their films into a Sami language. This is the result of a collaboration between the Sami Parliament on the Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish sides, the joint Sami organization Saami Council – and one of the world’s largest media and entertainment companies: Walt Disney Animation Studios.

This participatory site- and culture-responsive audio installation, created by Aotearoa (NZ)-born, Sydney-based public artist Allan Giddy, utilises the natural flow of water to convey the voices of First Nations children, speaking their messages to their community, their countries and the world in their First Languages. The children’s words, recorded and edited into soundscapes, are being ‘released’ into the water to flow to the oceans. This work is essentially invisible to passersby, yet the underwater audio can be accessed via a poetically simple means: a pole held with one end in the water, the other against the ear. As the project progresses the words that flow from children around the world will, metaphorically, eventually meet and mix with each other in the interconnected oceans of our globe. This intermingling of First Words will symbolise both the strength and support that First Cultures draw from establishing relationships with each other globally, and the interdependent nature of all humanity. 'Flow' is supported by Creative New Zealand, the Australia Council for the Arts and Create NSW. In Rotorua, Allan is creating 'Rotorua Flow', working with children from schools he attended as a child. The work will incorporate the voices of children from Malfroy Primary School speaking te reo Māori, and the poles will be carved into by students of Whakairo (Maori carving) from Rotorua Boys’ High School. 'Rotorua Flow' is supported by Creative New Zealand, facilitated by Rotorua Lakes Council, and installed on the lakefront, in Te Arawa waters, with the approval of Te Arawa Lakes Trust. With thanks to: the staff of Malfroy Primary and Rotorua Boys' High School, Ngati Whakaue, Pukeroa Oruawhata, Intercreate.org, University of New South Wales.