19.09.2019 - 20.09.2019
Árran – Ecology of Indigenous Languages
Global / / Helsinki
University of Helsinki
In Northern Sámi language, ‘Árran’ means hearth/fireplace,
and we take it as an analogy to how languages allow people
to come together and share their different experiences. On
the Year of Indigenous Languages declared by Unesco, the
main objective of our Symposium is to allow both indigenous
and non-indigenous scholars, activists, and artists to
discuss indigenous languages in light of the current
socio-political, economic, and environmental changes. Our
aim is to to exchange knowledge on best practices for the
promotion of Indigenous languages, which are often listed as
endangered, and to advance knowledge on the relations
between Indigenous languages, ontologies, and
epistemologies. The Symposium allows us to match the goals
risen by Unesco by celebrating the Year of Indigenous
Languages, and to effectively contribute to scholarship in
developing the concept of language ecology further.
Metaphorically, sharing stories and narratives, verbal art,
ways of speaking, and their symbolism fuels the warmth and
guarantees the continuation of the Árran.