ECU events to focus on importance of languages

East Carolina University will celebrate International Mother Language Day Feb. 21 – 23 to highlight the need for recognizing and preserving linguistic diversity.

Coordinating the event at ECU is Ricard Viñas-de-Puig, assistant professor of Hispanic studies, with a specialization in linguistics in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.

“Languages and linguistic diversity are a unique asset of humankind,” Viñas-de-Puig said. “…in a time where most of the world’s languages are facing a situation of endangerment, all and any efforts are necessary to raise awareness of their presence in every community,” he said.

“Eastern North Carolina and ECU are no exception and have become home to a significant number of very diverse languages and linguistic communities.”

Viñas-de-Puig will open the celebration with remarks on “Linguistic Diversity Starts Here: The Languages of ECU” at 5 p.m. Feb. 21 in Joyner Library. A screening will follow at 5:30 p.m. of the documentary, “Languages Lost and Found,” followed by a question and answer session.

On Feb. from 5 to 7 p.m. in Bate 1031, topics and speakers will include “New Millennium, Old Threats: ASL Under Pressure,” by Dr. Joseph Hill from UNC-Greensboro; “The Cherokee Immersion Program,” by Tom Belt and Dr. Hartwell Francis of Western Carolina University; and “Speakers’ Rights and Under-recognized Languages,” an open discussion with Hill, Belt and Francis.

International Mother Language Day was established by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization at their General Conference in 1999 and has been observed every year since February 2000.

For additional information, contact Viñas-de-Puig at 252-328-2103 or vinasdepuigr@ecu.edu, or visit http://blog.ecu.edu/sites/internationalmotherlanguageday/.

To read about the United Nation’s role in establishing International Mother Language Day, go to http://www.un.org/en/events/motherlanguageday/.

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