DILI, 15 April 2026 (TATOLI) – Language is a reflection of a people’s identity and a vehicle for culture, the director of the National Institute of Linguistics said at the opening of an international seminar in Dili.
The three-day International Seminar on Linguistics and Culture, held at the Ian Martin Hall of the National Institute for the Training of Teachers and Education Professionals, runs until Friday under the theme “Languages, Literatures and Cultures.”
The event is organized by the Tetum Language Teaching Department of the Faculty of Education, Arts and Humanities, in partnership with the postgraduate and research unit of the National University of Timor Lorosa’e and the National Institute of Linguistics.
The seminar aims to highlight research conducted by lecturers and final-year students, while promoting the development and dissemination of Timorese language, literature and culture.
INL Director Rosa da Costa said the event also marks the 12th anniversary of the Tetum Language Teaching Department, underscoring the importance of presenting new research in linguistic and cultural studies.
“Language is the mirror of a people’s identity and the vehicle of its culture. It is through language that we recognize the identity of an individual and, by extension, a nation,” she said, adding that Timor-Leste’s cultural diversity clearly reflects this identity.
The head of the Tetum Language Teaching Department, Nuno Gomes, said the seminar brings together recent research findings developed over the past years and serves as an academic platform for sharing scientific knowledge.
He said the event enables the presentation of dissertations and theses in linguistics, literature and cultural studies, emphasizing the importance of research, analysis and knowledge dissemination in academic settings.
Meanwhile, Vicente Paulino, from the university’s postgraduate and research unit, said co-organizing the seminar helps strengthen the dissemination of academic research, particularly among graduate students.
He added that the initiative provides a space for reflection and academic exchange on issues related to language, literature and culture, with a strong focus on Timor-Leste.
Journalist: Afonso do Rosário
Editor: Isaura Lemos de Deus
Translation: Filomeno Martins
