Arba Minch University (AMU) Internationalization and Collaboration Directorate in collaboration with University of Pavia-Italy held a public lecture on Linguistic Landscape and Language Standardization on February 19, 2025 at Chamo Campus. Staffs from English language and Literature Department, undergraduate and post students were on attendance. Click here to see more photos.
AMU Academic, Internationalization and Collaboration (AMU-AIC) Coordinator Adanech Zemede (PhD), during opening the program, said, our office works on increasing international engagements and collaborations by facilitating mutual agreements with other local and international universities and institutions on research, teaching-learning, students and staff exchange. This program is one of our duties, she hoped, the insights and experience of the presenter, Ms. Giulia Zhang (PhD Candidate) will inspire our staffs and students.
Ms. Giulia Zhang (PhD Candidate), a PhD student from university of Pavia, Italy, presented her lecture on her findings in her MA Thesis entitled “The ongoing standardization of Sidaama, a Cushitic Language of Ethiopia: Challenges and Perspectives” at University of Turin and important contents from het PhD proposal entitled “A Grammar of Burji, a Highland East Cushitic Language of Ethiopia and Kenya”. Studies show that knowing and learning languages makes the brain sharper, improves memory, problem-solving and even helps build multitasking skills, she noted. Languages come with cultures, and learning one means diving into traditions, art, and unique ways of seeing the world; languages symbolize identities and are used to signal by those who speak them, she explained. Languages and varieties of languages, subtle variations or major differences of pronunciation and grammar, are ways of expressing and recognizing many social identities people have, so studying the nature of languages and keeping the document is very important now a days, she emphasized.
Abera Uncha (PhD), Dean of College of Social Sciences and Humanities, in his closing remarks thanked the event organizer, the office of Internationalization and Collaboration, for its effort and appreciated Ms. Giulia Zhang (PhD Candidate) to choose AMU where language diversity has great value. Other departments should also learn from the department of language and literature about staff and student exchange and work hard on similar issues, he underscored.
The public lecture saw the attendees’ questions and explanations and insights followed which were shared during the discussion; it also significantly enriched the research experience offering a unique perspective on the future of linguistics at AMU.
Arba Minch University
The Center of Bright Future!
For more Information Follow us on:-
Website - https://www.amu.edu.et/
Telegram - https://t.me/arbaminch_university
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ArbaMinchUniversityccd/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOO_nclhMo8M3r74OyPBlVA
Public and International Relations Executive