British Council set to host 'Language and Development Conference'

The British Council is set to host the 11th Language and Development Conference in New Delhi from November 18 to 20. The conference is being hosted in association with Deen Dayal Upadhya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) of the Ministry of Rural Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Research Council of UK.

This conference is expected to attract over 300 policymakers, academicians and researchers working in the area of languages and development from India, Asia, Africa and other parts of the world. Some of the eminent speakers who will be present at the conference are Ajit Mohanty, Osama Manzar, Rukmini Banerji, Birgit Brock- Utne, James Simpson and Srikant Sarangi.

This is the first time that India will be hosting this prestigious international conference. The conference's main theme will be 'Multilingualism and Development' with three sub themes, which includes multilingualism and the metropolis; language, technology and multi-literacies; and multilingualism, marginalization and empowerment.

"British Council is a firm supporter of the Language and Development Conference series because as UK's cultural relations organisation, we believe that multiple languages sustain cultural diversity which has long term and sustained effect in securing peace and prosperity for us as individuals, for our communities and for our countries," said Rob Lynes, Director, British Council.

The Language and Development series is held every two years that explores the role of language in development. It addresses issues of world, national, second and minority languages and the role they play in economic, social and cultural development; language policy, conflict transformation, language rights and identity; communication, education and development and language pedagogy. The conference will be webcast live- www.britishcouncil.in.