Workshop on the Basque Language

antrim | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Wednesday September 06, 2006 00:32 by Belfast Basque Committee basquebelfast at hotmail dot com

Working together with the Belfast Basque Committee, An Chultúrlann presents a series of Basque events celebrating the diversity of the Basque language.

We'll have with us as special guest and main speaker Paul Bilbao, the director of the Observatory of the Basque Language Rights. Paul Bilbao Sarria has a degree in Basque Philology from the University of Deustu. He has a diploma in Text Edition and Publishing from the same university, and a postgraduate degree in Language Planning from the University of the Basque Country. He has completed Third Cycle studies in Deustu’s Sociology and Political Sciences faculty and is currently taking a postgraduate Human Rights course at the University of the Basque Country.

He taught at the University of Deustu for five years, and in 2001 took a position at the Observatory of Linguistic Rights. Since 2004 he has been the director of this organisation. Paul Bilbao has spoken in many international minority language fora on the situation in the Basque Country. He is also the chairman of the Basque PEN Club’s Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee.

It'll be a unique occasion to know more about one of the most mysterious and oldest language in Europe.

On Thursday 7 September, there will be a public talk on the language and its history and on Saturday 9 September, there
will be a day-long workshop which will include discussions on:

-Basque language's history and main characteristics
-Last 30 years (popular movement, organizations, laws, attacks,
campaigns, media) and statistics
-Teaching models, ways and organizations. Adult Teaching Organisation (AEK).
-The Basque Language Defence and support movement. Strategies and
organizations.

Although the workshop will be of particular interest to language activists, all are welcome to attend both events. Free admission.

Public Lecture
Déardaoin 7 Meán Fómhair / Thursday 7 September
7:30in

Workshop
Satharn 9 Meán Fómhair / Saturday 9 September
10:30rn – 3:00in
le sos do lón / with a break for lunch