2016-09-06
17th EURALEX International Congress in Tbilisi
The 17th International Congress of the European Association for Lexicography (EURALEX) was opened at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) on September 6. Acting Rector of TSU, Professor Darejan Tvaltvadze, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Giorgi Sharvashidze, professional lexicographers, publishers, researchers, software developers and others interested in dictionaries of all types participated in the event.
Acting Rector of TSU, Darejan Tvaltvadze said: “The Congress of the European Association for Lexicography is held biennially in various European countries and this is the first time, when the congress is hosted by a non-EU country. The congress will discuss a lot of important issues – lexicography, linguistics, those topics, which are researched in many universities and scientific centers of the world. Certainly, these issues are very important and interesting for our university too.”
“The European Association for Lexicography was founded in the 1980s and it was just then when the model of this conference was established. This model of a congress is impressive because it has very strict rules and observance of these rules is a guarantee of high academic level. The conference presents a series of topics that comprehensively highlight this difficult and multi-component interdisciplinary branch, which is very important, because lexicography is linked with the language and the language is extremely important for all countries,” Head of the Lexicographic Center at TSU, Tinatin Margalitadze said.
Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Giorgi Sharvashidze said that “Georgia is the first country in post-Soviet space, which has an honor to host the EURALEX Congress. Lexicography, generally, has a great history in Georgia; its history starts from the 17th century. It is very important that this congress is being held at TSU, because revival of this tradition is just related to the university’s walls. Today, in the 21st century, when new digital methodologies are being introduced, when the content of lexicography is being changed, it is utterly important to synchronize our pulse with that of our foreign colleagues.”
150 delegates from 40 countries participate in the Congress and 100 papers will be presented about 40 languages. The program will include plenary lectures, parallel sessions on various topics, software demonstrations, a round-table discussion, pre-congress tutorials and specialized workshops, a book and software exhibition as well as social events for participants and their guests.
Among keynote speakers are famous European scientists: Patrick Hanks (Great Britain), Robert Ilson (Great Britain), Jost Gippert (Germany), Geoffrey Williams (France) and Pius ten Hacken (Austria). Round Table will be moderated by Thierry Fontenelle (Belgium; head of Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union).
The motto of the Tbilisi congress is: Lexicography and Linguistic Diversity that refers to one of the main objectives of the congress that is the display of lexicography to preserve the linguistic diversity. The motto fits well with the newest University of Oxford project– Oxford Global Languages, which was presented on the opening day of the Congress at Tbilisi State University. Lexicography, dictionaries are closely linked with the language, which play a decisive role in determining the identity and culture of various peoples. Language plays a central role in the formation and maintenance of national identity, and the dictionary is the key tool for understanding it. Dictionaries are powerful language policy tools.
Understanding the significance of lexicography for national statehood, scientific and cultural development, school and university education has largely determined an unprecedented revitalization of lexicographic activities in Europe and the United States. The European Association for Lexicography was created just during this period.
The European Association of Lexicography was founded in the 1980s. It was created by the leading European lexicographers and linguists, who formed an impressive model of the international congress, held once every two years and distinguished by its high scientific level. The congress was held in 16 different European countries, and Georgia is the first non-EU country, where the 17th International Congress is being held.
Acting Rector of TSU, Darejan Tvaltvadze said: “The Congress of the European Association for Lexicography is held biennially in various European countries and this is the first time, when the congress is hosted by a non-EU country. The congress will discuss a lot of important issues – lexicography, linguistics, those topics, which are researched in many universities and scientific centers of the world. Certainly, these issues are very important and interesting for our university too.”
“The European Association for Lexicography was founded in the 1980s and it was just then when the model of this conference was established. This model of a congress is impressive because it has very strict rules and observance of these rules is a guarantee of high academic level. The conference presents a series of topics that comprehensively highlight this difficult and multi-component interdisciplinary branch, which is very important, because lexicography is linked with the language and the language is extremely important for all countries,” Head of the Lexicographic Center at TSU, Tinatin Margalitadze said.
Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Giorgi Sharvashidze said that “Georgia is the first country in post-Soviet space, which has an honor to host the EURALEX Congress. Lexicography, generally, has a great history in Georgia; its history starts from the 17th century. It is very important that this congress is being held at TSU, because revival of this tradition is just related to the university’s walls. Today, in the 21st century, when new digital methodologies are being introduced, when the content of lexicography is being changed, it is utterly important to synchronize our pulse with that of our foreign colleagues.”
150 delegates from 40 countries participate in the Congress and 100 papers will be presented about 40 languages. The program will include plenary lectures, parallel sessions on various topics, software demonstrations, a round-table discussion, pre-congress tutorials and specialized workshops, a book and software exhibition as well as social events for participants and their guests.
Among keynote speakers are famous European scientists: Patrick Hanks (Great Britain), Robert Ilson (Great Britain), Jost Gippert (Germany), Geoffrey Williams (France) and Pius ten Hacken (Austria). Round Table will be moderated by Thierry Fontenelle (Belgium; head of Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union).
The motto of the Tbilisi congress is: Lexicography and Linguistic Diversity that refers to one of the main objectives of the congress that is the display of lexicography to preserve the linguistic diversity. The motto fits well with the newest University of Oxford project– Oxford Global Languages, which was presented on the opening day of the Congress at Tbilisi State University. Lexicography, dictionaries are closely linked with the language, which play a decisive role in determining the identity and culture of various peoples. Language plays a central role in the formation and maintenance of national identity, and the dictionary is the key tool for understanding it. Dictionaries are powerful language policy tools.
Understanding the significance of lexicography for national statehood, scientific and cultural development, school and university education has largely determined an unprecedented revitalization of lexicographic activities in Europe and the United States. The European Association for Lexicography was created just during this period.
The European Association of Lexicography was founded in the 1980s. It was created by the leading European lexicographers and linguists, who formed an impressive model of the international congress, held once every two years and distinguished by its high scientific level. The congress was held in 16 different European countries, and Georgia is the first non-EU country, where the 17th International Congress is being held.
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