Language & Linguistic Seminar | “Can languages be imported and exported? The promotion of Portuguese in China from the perspective of Language Policy and Planning”
Language & Linguistic Seminar | "Can languages be imported and exported? The promotion of Portuguese in China from the perspective of Language Policy and Planning"
20
Nov
The Language & Linguistic Seminar “Can languages be imported and exported? The promotion of Portuguese in China from the perspective of Language Policy and Planning” organised by the Department of Languages and Culture – Faculty of Arts and Humanities will take place on November 20 in the classroom 301.
About the Talk:
This presentation will introduce the field of Language Policy and Planning (LPP), focusing particularly on how languages function as commodities imported and exported between nations. We will apply this theoretical framework to the case study of promoting Portuguese in China, examining how the global value of Portuguese has led to its promotion within China’s educational landscape and its strategic support from Portugal.
LPP involves managing languages through laws, policies, and practices by various agents to address specific issues. Recognizing that societies are inherently multilingual, with languages evolving through interactions among diverse cultures, foreign languages require adaptable policies that reflect contemporary socioeconomic dynamics. Moreover, the distinct values of languages—including practical utility, cultural significance, social status, and economic potential—shape individual and collective choices, effectively making languages commodities in global exchange.
We will assess the importance of Portuguese for China by considering its status as a global language, particularly in the context of diplomatic and economic relations between Portugal and China. We will then examine how Portuguese is promoted within China’s educational system, especially in higher education, while also identifying factors that facilitate or hinder its adoption. Additionally, we will explore how Portugal has developed policies and strategies to encourage the growth of Portuguese language programs in China.
Finally, we present a brief comparison with Spanish, analyzing how Spain promotes the Spanish language in China. This comparison highlights differences in strategies and outcomes, offering insights into what could be done differently to enhance the promotion of Portuguese.
About the Speaker:
Luís Pires is a Senior Instructor in the Department of Portuguese at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Macau. With 15 years of experience teaching Portuguese in China, he has previously taught at Tianjin Foreign Studies University as a lecturer appointed by the University of Lisbon, at Shanghai International Studies University as a Camões Institute lecturer, and served as Attaché for Education and Culture at the Portuguese Embassy in Beijing, where he also represented the Portuguese Institute of the Orient. He holds a Ph.D. in Portuguese Studies, specializing in Language Policy, from Portugal’s Open University.
Details:
Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2024
Time: 19:00 (GMT+8)
Location: Classroom 301, University of Saint Joseph – Ilha Verde Campus
Language: English
Organised by Department of Languages and Culture – Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Moderated by Prof. Tânia Ribeiro Marques
*This is a free event and open to the general public
