Basque Environment and Ocean Week

Nakusarbe, in collaboration with the provincial councils, has organised a series of conferences to bring scientific advances on the environment and the oceans closer to the public. The conferences were held during the first three weeks of June in the three capitals of the BAC: first in Donostia, then in Vitoria-Gasteiz and finally in Bilbao.

The Chair took part in the round table on "Life", organised on 14 June at the Palacio Europa in Vitoria-Gasteiz. There we had the opportunity to talk about the importance of the relationship between life and linguistic diversity.

Javier Franco, from AZTI, and Gorka Belamendia, from CEA, also participated in the round table.

Ama Hizkuntzaren Nazioarteko Eguna 2024

International Mother Tongue Day 2024

First publication date: 21/02/2024

February 21 is International Mother Tongue Day. For this reason, the Unesco Chair of World Linguistic Heritage has prepared a special programme to commemorate the day of 2024 and, in particular, a presentation of the animations created between the Catalan Corporation of Mitjans Audiovisuals and the Unesco Chair of World Linguistic Heritage.

Animations are already available! All the information here.

The presentation will take place on February 21 from 12:30 to 13:30 at the Álava Campus Pavilion.

12:30-12:40. Language and culture diversity. Amaia Izkue (Unesco Chair on World Language Heritage)
12:40-12:50. Eguzkilorea (projection).
12:50-13:00. Cooperation between TV3 and the Unesco Chair on World Language Heritage of the UPV/EHU. Ines García-Azkoaga (Unesco Chair on World Language Heritage) and Manuel Barrios Lucena (director of the programme Una mà de Contes).
13:00-13:10. El nen salmó (projection).
13:10-13:20. Dubbing into minority languages with young speakers. Amaia Izkue (Munduko Hizkuntza Ondarearen Unesco Katedra)
13:20-13:30 Eguzkilorea in other minority languages (projection).

National Meeting of Unesco Chairs and UNITWIN Networks of Spain

On 16 and 17 October, the National Meeting of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks of Spain was held in Cordoba. A total of 35 of the 65 Spanish Chairs took part, including the Chair of World Linguistic Heritage of the UPV/EHU, which highlighted the importance of linguistic diversity at a round table.

The conference, organised by the UNESCO Chair in Conflict Resolution of the University of Cordoba, among others, reflected on issues such as the transformation of higher education, the work programme of the Unitwin networks in Spain and the role of the chairs in university life.

Ines García Azkoaga, the head of the UNESCO Chair of World Linguistic Heritage of the UPV/EHU participated in a round table with members of other Spanish Chairs.

More information here.

(Opens New Window)Programa (pdf ,5,06 Mb)

Film marathon to celebrate the Mother Tongue Day

February 21 is International Mother Tongue Day. For many speakers the mother tongue is an indigenous or minority language, a language that rarely appears in school or outside the family. There is often no shortage of prejudices about the speakers of these languages, and in many cases, moreover, to undertake the revival of the language is almost a mirage. Nevertheless, the meaning and value of benefiting from this heritage for speakers allows us to share our thoughts on the mother tongue of indigenous and minority speakers. Proof of this is the variety of films and documentaries that bring us closer to the situations and experiences around the world.

In this film marathon we have been able to watch videos from different communities that have undermined the language of America and Europe.

1) Voices on the rise: Indigenous Language Revitalization in Alberta (Canada)

The first documentary is based in Canada, Alberta, and features the experience of Eli Hirtle. He considers himself an indigenous man in the suburbs, and like so many other indigenous people who live far from the community, Eli did not receive the native language of his family, the cree. [Kri] is the most spoken indigenous language in Canada. She's started learning that mother tongue in adulthood and in the documentary we've been able to see her journey back to that connection with the community.

Watch the documentary here: https://voicesontherise.ca/

2) Video diary of sami Liselotte Wajstedt (Sweden)

The second show was three five-minute videos. We were able to travel to Sweden, to Stockholm. There we have seen how sami woman Liselotte Wajstedt learns the original language of her community. We have seen Liselotte naming in Sami the elements around her, writing loose words in post-it, and gluing them round. We saw him in the subway, in the cafe, in his house, in the woods...
Sami or Lapland languages are spoken in an area from Sweden to Russia, i.e. in Sweden, Norway, Finland and northern Russia.

Watch the documentary here: https://www.liselottewajstedt.com/a-video-diary/

3) La parole assassinée - Ar Gomz Drouklazhet

The third documentary is located in Birttany. Speakers of three generations speak and think over their mother tongue. Alyson Cleretek is the director of the documentary.

See the documentary here: https://www.bretagne-et-diversite.net/fr/films/la-parole-assassinee/

4) MNECH DIZDEA (Mexico). Documentary on the revitalization of the Zapoteco Dizdea language

The fourth projection takes us to Mexico. They tell us about the efforts to revitalize the Zapoteco language.

See teh documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G7K4IGNQsg

5) Batzuk. Euskararen lau aurpegi

The last documentary was created by the EAK and Hiru Damatxo producer during the KORRIKA of 2017. In the film we can see different kind of Basque speakers, that are the result of the efforts to revitalize the language during the last years.

See the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfkL2DCZzuw

Hizkuntza gutxituen biziberritzeari buruzko mintegia Andoainen Kanadako kide indigenekin

Seminar on Revitalization of Minoritized Languages in Andoain with Canadian fellows

First publication date: 31/01/2023

Several members of the Sociolinguistics Cluster held a seminar with 40 researchers and doctoral students from Canada. The seminar dealt with minority languages revitalization and was held on January 19 at the Martin Ugalde Cultural Park in Andoain, at the initiative and organization of Dr. Lorna Williams (University of Victoria) and Dr. Paula Laita (Soziolinguistika Klusterra). The participants gathered in a sharing circle. A methodology based on indigenous education was used to exchange knowledge, experiences and opinions among its members with different rituals and special practices.

Dr. Lorna Williams is Professor Emeritus of Indigenous Education and Linguistics at the University of Victoria and chairs the Linguistic Education and Research Canada committee. She developed Indigenous language revitalization programs using traditional teaching and learning practices. Her courses were also revolutionary for including indigenous pedagogy, spiritual leaders and knowledge managers. In Canada she has greatly contributed to strengthening language recovery and revitalization processes.

In her words: "Today we made such profound connections between people. We heard the stories of the Basque language and people, their resolve and commitment to their language and world, we learned of the European and world context of the language and we learned of the connections to Canada in the work to revitalize and to keep the language strong. It is important to share these stories of strength in communities of kindness".

Source: https://soziolinguistika.eus/eu/2023/01/23/hizkuntza-gutxituen-biziberritzeari-buruzko-mintegia-kanadako-doktoregai-eta-ikerlariekin/