Print |
February 9-13, 2011: Sorosoro Director Rozenn Milin at International Conference on Language Documentation and Conservation (ICLDC), University of Hawai’i
We announced earlier the 2nd International Conference on Language Documentation and Conservation organized by the University of Hawai’i. This conference had two objectives: to review the different approaches to linguistic research on the one hand and the revitalization of these languages on the other .
During these few days, 350 linguists from all around the world gathered together to deliver, organize or attend dozens of talks and workshops dealing with languages from the 5 continents. The topics were many and varied, ranging from the development of dictionaries and the training of indigenous peoples in projects of language description to the role of video in language documentation.
Video in fact was given an important place in this year’s program. To begin with, a screening event of short films in and about endangered languages, selected by Melissa Bisagni (Smithsonian Institution) and Rozenn Milin (Sorosoro Director), was planned on February 10 evening. The organizers did not take the easy way out for they decided to screen fiction and animation films instead of documentaries, in order to show clearly that we can also create cinematographic works in minority or even endangered languages. The audience was therefore shown stories in languages such as Ikpeng (Brazil), Navajo (United-States), Creek (Canada), Saami (Norway) or Welsh (United-Kingdom).
Audiovisual methods were also discussed in a colloquium entitled « The Use of Film in Language Documentation ». Documentary filmakers Lisa Jackson (Anishinaabe language, Canada) and Vilsoni Hereniko (Rotuman language, Fiji Islands) screened excerpts from their films in native languages; director Paul Rickard presented a TV series in the Mohawk language; and as for Rozenn Milin, she explained Sorosoro’s approach by screening several of the short films shot in Senegal, Gabon and Guatemala.
The success of these sessions devoted to the role of audiovisual documentation and creation in endangered languages, the number of participants and the quality of the questions asked, all reflect the growing interest for this topic including within academic circles.