The Study Group on Language at the United Nations on Thursday & Friday, May 10-11, 2018 Jump to the PROGRAM or download it as a PDF file For more information, please read the Biographies and Abstracts Multilingualism in international co-operation entails both costs and benefits: costs because it requires mechanisms such as the selection of multilingual staff and the mediation of language professionals; benefits because, if properly managed, it includes all parties to decision-making, promotes consensus, supports programme delivery, and aids dissemination of results. Thus it favours social justice and inclusion. Increasingly, multilingualism is seen as a positive force, though it is not always recognized as such by all stakeholders. Within the United Nations, for example, owing in particular to the scarcity of available data, advocates of multilingual language policies often face ideological, financial and administrative resistance, despite a growing recognition that multilingualism, as a core value of the UN, is a potential source of strength. This symposium seeks to focus on, and generate interest in, these issues. Contributorscription will address the challenges of supporting multilingualism in organizations and in sites of international co-operation across different sectors (e.g. business, diplomacy, economics) and communities. Included will be theoretical and methodological studies, on the one hand, and studies addressing specific practical challenges, on the other – especially papers that focus directly on the work of the UN system or other international bodies, or research having obvious implications for their work. Among the themes that we hope to address are the following:
in cooperation with
The Center for Research and Documentation on World Language Problems,
The Universal Esperanto Association,
The Center for Applied Linguistics, and
Birkbeck, University of London
invites you to a symposium on
Multilingualism in International Organizations
and International Co-operation
at the Church Center, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017
First Avenue at 44th Street
Please use our form to register for our 2018 Symposium.
SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM
THURSDAY, MAY 10
8:00-9:00 Registration & Coffee
9:00-9:20 Welcome
Humphrey Tonkin (Director, Center for Research and Documentation on World Language Problems)
Joel Goméz (President & Chief Executive Officer, Center for Applied Linguistics)
9:20-10:45 Panel Discussion: Parity and multilingualism at the United Nations
Moderator: Igor Shpiniov, Chief of the Office of the Under-Secretary-General, Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, UN Secretariat.
Panelists:
H.E. Amb. Martín García Moritán, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations
H.E. Amb. Narjess Saidane, Permanent Observer for the International Organization of La Francophonie to the United Nations
H.E. Amb. Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Guyana to the United Nations
H.E. Amb. Valentin Rybakov, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Belarus to the United Nations
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00-11:45 Keynote Address: Michele Gazzola (University of Leipzig):
What are the economic effects of language regimes?: The case of the World Intellectual Property Organisation and the European Patent Office.
11:45-1:15 Session 1: Language Rights & Responsibilities
John Edwards (St Francis Xavier University and Dalhousie University):
Language claims & language rights
Timothy Reagan (University of Maine):
Sign language multilingualism: The forgotten language diversity in disempowered communities
Emmanuel Asonye (University of Mexico), Ezinne Emma-Asonye (University of Mexico), Queenette Okwaraji (University of Rochester) and Khadijah Asili (Vizionz-Sankofa):
Linguistic diversity and the language rights of the underprivileged population in Africa and America: Towards an inclusive society in 2030
Chair: Lisa McEntee-Atalianis (Birkbeck, University of London)
1:15-2:00 Lunch
2:00-3:00 Session 2: Language Rights & Responsibilities (continued)
Nirvana Bhatia (Linguistic Rights Specialist):
The paper chase: A review of the UN’s recent language-rights legislation
Maneeratana Sawasdiwat Na Ayutthaya (President of ASEAN Center for Multilingualism, Translation & Interpretation):
Multilingualism, translation and interpretation in the ASEAN Community
Chair: Timothy Reagan (University of Maine)
3:00-3:30 Break
3:30-4:00 Session 3: The International Criminal Court
Leigh Swigart (Brandeis University):
English at the International Criminal Court: Working language or default language?
Beatrice Owiti (Kenya Methodist University):
Interpretation and translation in the International Criminal Court
Chair: Rosemary Salomone (St. John’s University, New York)
4:00-4:15 Vigdis Eriksen (Chair of the Board of Red T)
The protection of language workers in combat zones
4:15-4:30 Video Presentation: “Multilingualism: why and how to promote it?” (OIF)
4:30-5:00 Summary of the day’s proceedings and general discussion
FRIDAY, MAY 11
8:00-9:00 Registration & Coffee
9:00-9:15 Welcome and address:
Joel Goméz (President and Chief Executive Officer, Center for Applied Linguistics)
9:15-10:40 Panel Discussion: International Organizations at Work: The Linguistic Dimension
Moderator: Rosemary Salomone, Kenneth Wang Professor of Law, St. John's University
Panelists:
Guillaume Dabouis, Head of the Political Section, UN Delegation of the European Union
Mekki Elbadri, translator, Arabic Section, Documentation Division, United Nations
Carole Maisonneuve, Public Information & Multilingualism Coordination Officer, DGACM, United Nations
Jean-Victor Nkolo, Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, United Nations
Marie-Paule Roudil, Director, UNESCO Liaison Office, New York
Russell Taylor, Chief, Publications and Editorial, United Nations Department of Public Information
(Affiliation is for identification purposes only. The comments of the panelists do not necessarily represent the position of the organizations with which they are affiliated.)
10:40-11:40 Session 4: Language Policy & Linguistic Diversity
Lisa McEntee-Atalianis (Birkbeck, University of London), Michele Gazzola (University of Leipzig) and Torsten Templin (Humboldt University, Berlin):
Measuring diversity in multilingual communication
Francis M. Hult (Lund University, Sweden):
Parallel language use: A Nordic solution for multilingual organisations?
Chair: Humphrey Tonkin (President Emeritus, University of Hartford)
11:40-11:55 Break
11:55-12:55 Session 5: Language Policy & Linguistic Diversity (continued)
Dorte Lønsmann (Copenhagen Business School) & Janus Mortensen (University of Copenhagen):
English only? A critical examination of the ‘natural’ status of English as a corporate language
Spencer Hazel (Newcastle University), Katherine Kappa and Kamilla Kraft (University of Copenhagen):
Language policing in international organisations: Explicit and embedded orientations to language repertoires and their impact on professional identity
Chair: Francis M. Hult (Lund University, Sweden)
12:55-1:40 Lunch
1:40-2:40 Session 6: Interpretation & Translation
Mirna Soares Andrade (Inter-American Defense College):
Multilingualism and language services at the Inter-American Defense College
Shana Pughe Dean (Tone Translate):
Creating opportunity and understanding in a multicultural world on the move: Refugee resettlement agencies
Chair: Lisa McEntee-Atalianis (Birkbeck, University of London)
2:40-2:55 Break
2:55-4:40 Session 6: Multilingual Education
Carol Benson (Teachers College, Columbia University):
The importance of a multilingual habitus when assessing literacy skills in educational development
Maung Nyeu (Harvard University):
Multilingual education – an essential cornerstone for promoting diversity and inclusion in a globalizing world
Erina Iwasaki (Teachers College, Columbia University):
Reframing multilingualism in terms of opportunity
Ari Sherris (Texas & A & M University-Kingsville, Texas) & Joy Kreeft Peyton (Center for Applied Linguistics, Washington, D.C.):
The power of multilingualism and multiliteracy for languages and groups
Chair: Rosemary Salomone (St. John’s University, New York)
4:40-5:00 Closing discussion: Future directions & collaborations: Academic impact on the work of the UN
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The Study Group gratefully acknowledges the financial support of:
- Birkbeck, University of London
- The Center for Applied Linguistics, Washington DC, and
- The Esperantic Studies Foundation
without which this symposium would not be possible.