NAPS 2016 Susanna Zaraysky - Language Activism
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Susanna Zaraysky, author of Language is Music (translated in Portuguese, Russian and
Transcript of NAPS 2016 Susanna Zaraysky - Language Activism
Susanna Zaraysky, author of Language is Music(translated in Portuguese, Russian and Spanish)
WHAT IS LANGUAGE ACTIVISM?
Take it to the streets!
COLONIAL vs. NEW
French it up in India!
Neo-Ottomanism
Unofficial neo-Ottomanism
English: Neutral language
Rwanda: Switches to English
Russian over English American Corners, Kyrgyzstan
MUSIC
Maori song beat Mr. “I’m bringing sexy back”
Music to the rescue!
POETRY
Québécois poem: Speak white!Speak White!
Speak whiteIt sounds so good when youSpeak of Paradise LostAnd of the gracious and anonymous profile that tremblesIn Shakespeare's sonnets
We're an uncultured stammering raceBut we are not deaf to the genius of a languageSpeak with the accent of Milton and Byron and Shelley and KeatsSpeak whiteAnd forgive us our only answerBeing the raucous songs of our ancestorsAnd the sorrows of Nelligan
Michèle Lalonde, 1970, translated Albert Herring, 2001
Speak white!
Il est si beau de vous entendreParler de Paradise LostOu du profil gracieux et anonyme qui tremble dans les sonnets de Shakespeare
Nous sommes un peuple inculte et bègueMais ne sommes pas sourds au génie d’une langueParlez avec l’accent de Milton et Byron et Shelley et KeatsSpeak white!Et pardonnez-nous de n’avoir pour réponseQue les chants rauques de nos ancêtresEt le chagrin de Nelligan
Welsh poetry festival
Gwyneth Lewis poems win 2012 National Eisteddfod Crown
FILMS
Oscars!
Film festivals
My co-produced documentary
ENDANGERED LANGUAGE PRESERVATION WITH TECH
Social media
Apps
How can I be an activist?
