Languages and the United Nations
A selection of informative articles and stories from around the world highlighting the importance of languages at the United Nations in this, the International Year of Languages.
DGACM Day celebrates International Year of Languages.
UN staff members, their families and friends gathered at the East Meadow in Central Park in New York City on 4 October 2008 to take part in DGACM Day, the first informal outdoor event organized by the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management of the United Nations.
Role of DGACM in facilitating dialogue between Member States will be highlighted in exhibit to open this fall at UN Headquarters.
The Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) is organizing an exhibit to highlight the important and challenging role that DGACM language staff play in facilitating dialogue and cooperation among Member States. The exhibit will open October 2008 in the General Assembly visitor's area.
Arabic calligraphy exhibit held at UN Headquarters
The Language and Communications Programme held a one-day exhibit of Arabic calligraphy in the Secretariat lobby on Monday, 7 July. Various works of Arabic calligraphy on posters, brass, wood, papyrus, and pottery were on display, as well as books, and silver and gold jewelry.
Simulation of official meeting in French held at UN Headquarters for diplomats and staff
The Learning Section's French Language Programme at Headquarters held an innovative three-day workshop in French at the end of June to simulate an official meeting.
Chinese calligraphy comes to the UN
An exhibition of Chinese calligraphy was held in the UN Secretariat Lobby in June. It featured the works of renowned Chinese calligrapher, Xuzhong Tian, President of the Chengdu Academy of Calligraphy and Painting, China, who is famous for his cursive-style calligraphy and paintings of horses.
How many languages are spoken at Headquarters?
As part of the year-long activities to celebrate 2008 International Year of Languages, the Learning Section/OHRM’s Language and Communications Programme is launching the How Many Languages are spoken at UNHQ? campaign.
The art of translation at the United Nations
In the framework of the 2008 International Year of Languages, the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) will feature articles on the work of the Department’s language units. The series starts with a description of the Translation Services.
The International Year of Languages, 2008, was officially launched 21 February
On average, a language ceases to be spoken every two weeks. Within the space of a few generations, more than half of the 7,000 languages spoken in the world may disappear, and according to experts, 96% of languages are spoken by only 4% of the population.