DILI, 21 february 2024 (TATOLI) – The 2nd International Seminar on Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, organized by the Tetum Language Department of the Faculty of Education, Arts and Humanities and the Centre for the Study of Culture and the Arts (CECA) of the National University of Timor Lorosa’e, promotes research by teachers and students.
According to the Director of the CECA, Vicente Paulino, the seminar aims to valorize the research work carried out by teachers and final-year students. It also contributes to the dissemination of language, literature, and culture, and strengthens friendship and unity between teachers and students.
During the seminar, Father Juvito do Rêgo, a lecturer at the Institute of Philosophy and Theology, presented the article ‘A Critical Approach to the Role of Language in Building Timorese Identity’, stating that in Timor-Leste “there is no seriousness in the use of official languages.”
“Language determines a country’s identity, but so far we haven’t internationalized our language. Our nationality is Timorese, but which language do we speak Tetum or Portuguese? We need to be serious about implementing the policy of using language to reaffirm our identity,” said priest Rêgo at the Jorge Sampaio Cultural Centre, at the Portuguese Embassy, in Dili.
He said the international seminar is important to begin standardizing the language, adding that “there are orthographic differences between what is accepted by the National Institute of Linguistics (INL), the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT) and the Timorese Catholic Church”.
Journalist: Afonso do Rosário
Editor: Isaura Lemos de Deus
Translation: Camilio de Sousa
