Mit - Index

Mit - SINFO March 2008 No.5 - Index

s o C i e t y
MOTHER LANGUAGE dAy ANd THE fIRM
POSITION Of THE SLOvENE LANGUAGE
The purpose of International Mother Language Day is to warn of
the necessity of preserving the cultural and linguistic differences
of particular environments, which enables intense flows of
creative energies and preservation of the whole spectrum of the
energies embedded in humankind, which draws its best creative
achievements primarily from diversity. On this occasion, one of the
best known younger experts in the Slovene language, Dr Marko
Stabej, who is a sharp observer and analyst of the social role of
language in Slovene and world relations, discussed the role of
Slovenian.
The question its dying out (along with similar small) languages
is often a topic of expert debate, especially with regard to the
progress of global English, but Dr. Stabej is very optimistic:
“The Slovenian language will not die out for at least several
generations, and if it happens, it will happen together with all
other European languages,” and he adds that Slovenian is not
one of the smallest languages in the world at all, as only 5 per
cent of languages in the world have more than 2 million speakers.
With regard to current Slovenian language policy, which ha salso
left a strong mark in the Slovenian parliament, Stabej thinks
that it is still too orientated to preserving and protecting the
language, and too little to ‘equipping’ and offering Slovenian
in the form of various language and translating tools, single- or
double-language electronic dictionaries and terminology sources;
especially important is the offer of Slovenian for foreigners and
immigrants. He reminded that it has been established elsewhere
that immigrants and their languages are not a barrier, but a
potential, and not only in the cultural, but also in the economic
sense. “A successful and satisfied immigrant who knows both
languages will become a mediator between their current and
former environment, which can be only good,” believes Stabej.
SLOvENIAN ART IN BRUSSELS
It is understandable that Slovenia is using its Presidency of the
European Union in order for other Member States to get to
know as much as possible about us and Slovenia’s attractions.
The presentation of Slovenian art and culture has become
a constant in Brussels, where all the paths of the increasingly
connected European community meet, and it is recording
satisfactory interest and a friendly response. In Brussels town hall
an exhibition was opened where the biggest Slovenian bank,
Nova ljubljanska banka, presents a part of its collection of fine
arts created after the second World War, which the bank has
been systematically acquiring since its inception. The exhibition
was prepared by art critic Stane Bernik, and he chose around
50 pieces, including work by Andrej Jemec, Tone Kralj, Gabrijel
Stupica and Metka Kraševec. The exhibition was, among others,
opened by the mayor of Brussels, Freddy Thielmans, and the
Slovenian ambassador in Brussels, Borut Trekman.
At the beginning of March a small film festival was organised in
Brussels, in collaboration with Creative Media Business, where
some recent Slovenian movies were presented to the audience.
It started with the showing of the new record-breaker − the
most seen Slovenian movie, ‘Rooster’s Breakfast’, directed by
Matjaž Naberšnik, and it continued with a movie by Franci Slak,
who recently passed away, ‘The Felons’, and a family drama
directed by Igor ©terk, ‘Tuning’, which is taking place in Brussels
and Ljubljana. Before each showing, an animated movie, where
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Slovenia has a rich tradition, was shown: ‘Beezes’ directed by
Gregor Mastnak, ‘Lovesick’ by the young director ©pela »adež,
and ‘Vertigo Bird’ directed by Sašo Podgoršek.
The presentations were also accompanied by literature, as Lucija
Stupica, Boris A. Novak, Gorazd KocijanËiË and Aleš Sterger
introduced themselves in the Slovenian House in Brussels at the
beginning of March. Prior to that, the same authors, together with
Nejc Gazvoda and Mitja »ander, were also presented at an evening
of modern Slovenian art in the interesting Brussels bookshop/
international house of literature called Passa Porta, as well as in
Ghent and Antwerp, which was organised by Student Publishing
House and the lectureship of Slovene language at the University
of Ghent. The philosopher and translator of philosophy, Gorazd
KocjanËiË, commented that responses to his literary/philosophy
evenings around Belgium were really exceptional.
SLOvENIA LINKING THE SLAvS WITH A
BRIdGE Of PROSE
From the end of February until the first half of May a festival of
Slavonic cultures takes place in Slovenia called Slavonic Bridge,
which also be the central literary event of the European Year
of Intercultural Dialogue in the country holding the Presidency
of the European Union. The organisers of the festival, which
connects mainly creators of prose, are the Forum of European
Cultures, magazine Apokalipsa and Cankarjev dom. The festival
was opened by Serbians Mihajlo PantiÊ and Gordana »irjaniÊ, and
since then the festival has continued each Thursday in the Club of
Cankarjev dom with readings and meetings of writers from Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Russia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Poland,
Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Ukraine. In ten literary
evenings one male and one female author from each country
presents themselves; only the Russians and Poles will present one
author. The organisers have invited authors of various ages; the
only criteria was recognition in their own environments.
The project is largely the work of the Forum of Slavonic Cultures,
which was formed on the incentive of political encouragement
from cultural ministers of Slavonic countries some six year ago,
and the quickly growing cultural and economic contacts between
Slavonic countries, some of which are members of the EU (and
the others are not (yet)). This was an additional motive to organise
the festival, which thereby adds a wider dimension to the year of
intercultural dialogue.