The Etxepare Institute has organized a conference in Paris on the challenges facing minority languages in the field of francophony

The Basque Etxepare Institutehas organized for 19 Novemberthe international conference "Langues minorisées en contexte francophone: traduire, transmettre, transformer" at the Sorbonne and Sorbonne Nouvelle universities in Paris, to reflect on the challenges facing minority languages in the French-speaking universe.

As explained in the presentation on Monday, the meeting coincides with the 15th anniversary of the Basque Etxepare Institute and is organized in the context of the 'Ça colle au basque' initiative, a project launched to strengthen the projection of the Basque Euskera and Basque creation into the French-speaking universe.

The conference will be attended by 20 speakers from nine universities who will reflect in the French-speaking context on the challenges facing minority languages today. Thus, "the social function and linguistic diversity of languages in the diglosic state" will be visualized and proclaimed.

With the Euskera as a starting point and as a source of inspiration, the conference will begin "Dialogue between minority languages in the French-speaking area". Through three round tables and two major conferences, they will discuss the dynamics of translation, transmission and recognition of these languages, as well as the recognition of their rights.

The conference will be attended by international professors and experts in the fields of linguistics, translation, comparative literature, political science, sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, among others.

The Euskera and other minority languages of the French-speaking universe, such as the indigenous languages of French Guiana, the Creole of the Antilles, or the Breton, will be a first-class academic meeting at the centre of the "debate on minority languages".

"Great symbolic value"

The Director-General of the Basque Institute Etxepare, Irene Larraza, stated in the presentation that "the holding of this congress in the academic heart of Paris has great symbolic value: it means recognizing the Basque Country's place in the field of languages and recognizing linguistic diversity as a European value".

"By bringing together languages that are usually located on the periphery, the meeting will revolutionize the relationship between the centre and the margins for several days, bringing to the forefront the social role and vital strength of minority languages, "he explains.

Thus, in addition to opening up an innovative space for reflection and intellectual exchange on linguistic diversity, the congress will strengthen the alliance of the Basque Etxepare Institute with two international academic references (Université Sorbonne Nouvelle and Sorbonne Université).

15 years of career.

This year marks 15 years since the Basque Etxepare Institute began its activities, and among the events organized to celebrate the anniversary is the Paris Conference.

The main event will take place on 19 November at the National Library of France, chaired by the President of the Basque Government, Imanol Pradales. There will also be numerous political, institutional and cultural representatives and members of the Basque diaspora residing in Paris.

The event will take place in a space of symbolic value, as the only copy of the first book published in Basque is kept in the National Library of France ('Linguae Vasconum Primitiae' by Bernat Etxepare).