The 2nd conference, in October 2009, was also held at the Quai Branly Museum. It focused on the launch of the website (www.sorosoro.org) and, among others, included the participation of linguist Claude Hagège and President of Sorosoro’s Scientific board Colette Grinevald.

On October 6th, 2009, Sorosoro organized an update conference, a little over a year after its launch at the Quai Branly Museum. It allowed us to make a first assessment of the actions undertaken since 2008, and to launch the new Sorosoro website.

The program of course included linguists, such as Colette Grinevald, who caught the public’s attention by explaining what the work of field linguists consists of, and also by briefly introducing the first Sorosoro shoots in Guatemala; as for Jean-Marie Hombert, he described the field shoot of June 2009 in Gabon and presented some films made there in the Punu and the Akélé communities; Stéphane Robert finally presented the Sénélangues program, of which Sorosoro is a partner, and whose goal is to document around twenty languages over 4 years in Senegal.

The meeting was closed by Claude Hagège. With his usual passion, he spoke of the diversity of languages, the way some decline, and the way some regain vitality, too. He asserted the need to promote education and media in those languages to give them a chance to survive and develop.

Colette Grinevald’s speech

(in French, English subtitles)

Jean-Marie Hombert’s speech

(in French only)

Stéphane Robert’s speech

(in French only)

Professor Claude Hagège’s speech

(in French only)

President Chirac’s speech

(in French only)

Image and sound : musée du quai Branly
Editing : Caroline Laurent

 
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