Most teachers and educators, translators and interpreters look at interference as a serious language mistake. Interferences are traces of one language in another language. For example, it is observed that Canadian French is heavily influenced by the majority language, English. On the other hand, Cameroon English is heavily influenced, in much the same way, by French, which is the majority language in that country. In both contexts, is this influence avoidable? Is it always a problem?
Whatever the case, translators and educators are normally enjoined to guard against such misuses that threaten the integrity of a specific language and its culture. This prescriptive point of view does not seem to be tenable in a situation of social and official bilingualism. The objective of this presentation is thus to show that interference, as criticized as it might be from language purists and educators, can still be a good solution to translation and communication in a situation of official or State bilingualism.
On Thursday, November 25, University of Lethbridge modern languages and linguistics professor Dr. Alain Takam will present Translating in a context of official bilingualism: What happens to the minority language? as part of the PUBlic Professor Series.
While the University had hoped to return to in-person delivery of these talks, the safety of our speakers and guests in attendance is of the utmost importance, and the talks will remain LIVE ONLINE. Please register for this event at pps-takam.eventbrite.ca. All registrants will receive secure access information before the talk.
Alain Flaubert Takam, a former Killam Scholar from Dalhousie University, is an associate professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics where he teaches French and linguistics. His current research focuses on language in education planning (acquisition planning), that is, language planning as it relates to the teaching and learning of minority languages in a bilingual or multilingual context. He also carries out research in the fields of endangered language revitalization, contact linguistics, language variation, the sociolinguistics of translation and socio-pragmatics.
Learn more, visit: ulethbridge.ca/artsci/pps-takam
-- 30 --
Contact:
Dr. Alain Takam, Department of Modern Languages & Linguistics
403-329-2561
Catharine Reader, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Arts & Science
403-382-7154
