Slowmemo general conference (Aarhus) – June 12-16 2023
One of the cross-cutting themes of the Slow Memory project is language. This theme is applicable to all working groups and was discussed in an all-group meeting in Aarhus. We discussed how this can be applied on different levels:
- from a multilingual perspective – across the working groups we can ensure that we are using sources from languages other than English and also produce our output in languages other than English. This will ensure the project has a wider reach and can be accessed by a larger audience than if it is solely produced in English. It also means that group members can be made aware of research produced in other countries which they might not have access to. It also ensures that ‘English as norm’ is not automatic for this project and we invite and encourage other languages in the project.
- It also involves research will includes looking at language – this can include the way that language is used (for example in propaganda posters or by media/politicians) but also that we can examine language as a feature of interviews/oral histories to investigate what this tells us about Slow Memory – do people use language in different ways? Are memory and language interlinked and how can this be examined?
We would encourage people to work together within but also across groups to consider how this can best be achieved and I will be following this up over coming months through discussion with the individual working groups.
Natalie Braber
