English interpretation booth at a Security Council meeting. UN Photo/Manuel Elias
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."— William Shakespeare, "Romeo and Juliet"
English, along with French, is one of the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat, and one of the Organization's six official languages.
Because it is so widely spoken, English is often referred to as a "world language", or the lingua franca of the modern era.
Language Days at the UN
English Language Day at the UN is celebrated on 23 April, the date traditionally observed as both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare. The Day is the result of a 2010 initiative by the Department of Public Information, establishing language days for each of the Organization's six official languages. The purpose of the UN's language days is to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization.
Under the initiative, UN duty stations around the world celebrate six separate days, each dedicated to one of the Organization's six official languages.
Language Days at the UN aim to entertain as well as inform, with the goal of increasing awareness and respect for the history, culture and achievements of each of the six working languages among the UN community.
23-30 April
23 April
11.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m.
5-7 p.m.
Starts at 4 p.m.
on 23 April
23 April
12-2.15 p.m.
4-5.30 p.m.
Photo Exhibit and Slide Show
Joint Celebrations of English &
Spanish Language Days
Authors-for-Literacy event
Quiz about English language
English: a Nobel language
E
N
G
L
I
S
H
L
A
N
G
U
A
G
E
D
A
Y
A
T
T
H
E
U
N
UN OG
UN HQ
H IGH L IGH T S
M O R E I N F O
2
3
A
P
RIL
2
018
Venue: Palais des Nations, UNOG Cinema
Access: Open to all UNOG grounds pass holders
Presented by the English Translation & Editorial Service
of the Department for General Assembly and Conference
Management, and the Office of Human Resources
Management's Language and Communications
Programme.
Presented by the UN Correspondents Association (UNCA)
and the Office of Human Resources Management's
Language and Communications Programme. All
contributions will benefit literary projects of UN Staff 1%
for Development Fund.
Photo exhibit and slideshow, quizzes, information table
and reading of excerpts from Shakespeare & Cervantes.
Reception followed by a conversation with award-winning
fiction writer Elizabeth Strout and renowned novelist
Katherine Vaz and acclaimed poet Major Jackson.
Screening of The Remains of the Day, the film
adaptation of Nobel Laureate Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel.
Afternoon tea for all UNOG grounds pass holders, hosted
by the UNOG Library Events Room (B-135).
Events hosted by the UNOG Division of Conference
Management in cooperation with the UNOG Library.
More info: https://bit.ly/2HdtpB5
Venue: Albano Building, Lobby.
Access: Open to all with UN grounds pass.
Prizes: Various prizes
Access: UN staff and interns. Available online (URL TBC)
Venue: General Assembly Building, 3B, UN Learning Centre
Access: Open to all UN grounds pass holders
Venue: Secretariat Building, room S-310
Access: Open to all UN grounds pass holders
English Language Day in words and pictures, presented
by the English Translation & Editorial Service of the
Department for General Assembly and Conference
Management, in collaboration with the Office of Human
Resources Management's Language and
Communications Programme.
In its resolutions on multilingualism, the
UN General Assembly has welcomed the
language days established by the
Secretariat in 2010, and called for their
continued observance in order to raise
awareness of the use of the official
languages, and, where possible, other
languages, at the UN.
To learn more about UN Language Days :
https://bit.ly/2vkMT5h
To learn more about English Language
Day at the UN:
https://bit.ly/1o39RDN
Presented by the Office of Human Resources
Management's Language and Communications
Programme.
Post a Comment