Punjab Agricultural University club — Litteraire Francais — on Thursday organised a seminar on “French language, literature and culture” in the Students’ Home Auditorium at the PAU. The chief guest at the event was PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Manjit Singh Kang who is also the chief patron of the club.
In his remarks, Dr Kang said that he had deep interest in languages, right from the time he was a student and that he obtained proficiency in French under the Education Testing Service ( ETS) programme. Dr Kang said that continuous practice was vital for learning any foreign language.
He added that one should try to learn as many languages as one could, as this gave one knowledge about various societies of the world. The world is shrinking by the day, said Dr Kang, adding that this made learning languages all the more important.
Dr Neeta D Kang, who was also present on the occasion, said that it was important to communicate in the language of the land and that learning of foreign languages was imperative to interact with people of different nationalities.
Friday 21 August 2009
Friday 7 August 2009
Reference book for foreign spouses available in 7 languages
The National Immigration Agency (NIA) has published a reference book in seven languages to help foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens adapt to local customs and lifestyles, an official said Wednesday.
"The book has been printed in Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Philippine, Thai, Myanmar and Cambodian languages for distribution to foreign spouses of local citizens," said NIA Director-General Hsieh Li-kung.
"The book contains all sorts of practical information and useful tips for better living," Hsieh said, adding that it is expected to help new immigrants assimilate into life in Taiwan.
In order for their marriages to succeed, foreign spouses need the full support of their Taiwanese family members, Hsieh said, calling on extended family members to open-mindedly accept these spouses as new immigrants to Taiwan.
According to Hsieh, the NIG has set up a databank of 394 translators versed in Vietnamese, Indonesian, Philippine, Thai, Myanmar and Cambodian languages.
"This new group of translating and interpreting talent can easily and smoothly communicate with new immigrants and offer them various counseling services," Hsieh said.
In addition, Hsieh said the NIA has installed hotlines for foreign spouses and other foreign expats to offer them more useful counseling and guidelines for living in Taiwan.
"The book has been printed in Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Philippine, Thai, Myanmar and Cambodian languages for distribution to foreign spouses of local citizens," said NIA Director-General Hsieh Li-kung.
"The book contains all sorts of practical information and useful tips for better living," Hsieh said, adding that it is expected to help new immigrants assimilate into life in Taiwan.
In order for their marriages to succeed, foreign spouses need the full support of their Taiwanese family members, Hsieh said, calling on extended family members to open-mindedly accept these spouses as new immigrants to Taiwan.
According to Hsieh, the NIG has set up a databank of 394 translators versed in Vietnamese, Indonesian, Philippine, Thai, Myanmar and Cambodian languages.
"This new group of translating and interpreting talent can easily and smoothly communicate with new immigrants and offer them various counseling services," Hsieh said.
In addition, Hsieh said the NIA has installed hotlines for foreign spouses and other foreign expats to offer them more useful counseling and guidelines for living in Taiwan.
Monday 3 August 2009
Linking language, art and culture
A tool, a hurdle, a weapon. An inescapable part of our lives. Language is all that and more. It is also part of our identity as distinct human beings.
Research has shown that when we are born we think in pictures. Eventually, we link the pictures to the words we hear spoken around us. Our cognitive processes are thus all linked to our birth language and, therefore, language and culture are inextricably linked.
Language is an emotive issue with economic, social, educational and political implications, according to Professor Kathleen Thorpe, head of German studies in the School of Literature and Language Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The best example of the political implications of the use of a particular language, was the 1976 Soweto uprisings when pupils refused to be taught in Afrikaans, which the government had tried to force on them. Language — the use of one’s own mother tongue in particular — is a basic human right entrenched in the Bill of Rights in our Constitution.
Thorpe says the undervaluing of the humanities is having a disastrous effect on the general standard of education in South Africa. Young people are being deprived of learning to think critically, construct an argument, tolerate and appreciate difference — as well as improve their language and communication skills, a matter increasingly mentioned by employers, she says.
“The perceived hegemony of English is doing everyone a disservice,” says Thorpe. “South Africa seems woefully unaware of the value of foreign languages — a surprising fact in the light of the upcoming World Cup, at which hundreds of thousands of Europeans are expected. Neither in schools nor at university level, is the awareness of the value of learning a new language very high. Learning a foreign language will change your consciousness,” she says.
Language studies broaden one’s thinking and hone critical and interpretative skills. Learning a language is a way to gain new knowledge, and the knowledge inherent in each culture is woven into its literature.
Art in visual form is also a language, albeit more bodily directed and less mediated than discursive language. Over time, art forms transform into conceptual clarity, into new discursive language. Therefore a picture is much more than just an image the viewer looks at.
Research has shown that when we are born we think in pictures. Eventually, we link the pictures to the words we hear spoken around us. Our cognitive processes are thus all linked to our birth language and, therefore, language and culture are inextricably linked.
Language is an emotive issue with economic, social, educational and political implications, according to Professor Kathleen Thorpe, head of German studies in the School of Literature and Language Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The best example of the political implications of the use of a particular language, was the 1976 Soweto uprisings when pupils refused to be taught in Afrikaans, which the government had tried to force on them. Language — the use of one’s own mother tongue in particular — is a basic human right entrenched in the Bill of Rights in our Constitution.
Thorpe says the undervaluing of the humanities is having a disastrous effect on the general standard of education in South Africa. Young people are being deprived of learning to think critically, construct an argument, tolerate and appreciate difference — as well as improve their language and communication skills, a matter increasingly mentioned by employers, she says.
“The perceived hegemony of English is doing everyone a disservice,” says Thorpe. “South Africa seems woefully unaware of the value of foreign languages — a surprising fact in the light of the upcoming World Cup, at which hundreds of thousands of Europeans are expected. Neither in schools nor at university level, is the awareness of the value of learning a new language very high. Learning a foreign language will change your consciousness,” she says.
Language studies broaden one’s thinking and hone critical and interpretative skills. Learning a language is a way to gain new knowledge, and the knowledge inherent in each culture is woven into its literature.
Art in visual form is also a language, albeit more bodily directed and less mediated than discursive language. Over time, art forms transform into conceptual clarity, into new discursive language. Therefore a picture is much more than just an image the viewer looks at.
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