Words – one path to peace and understanding

This extensive seminar programme lasted for three days and is summed up in the report by Diane Oatley. It was part of a larger literary event in Oslo, Words.

18 September, Multilingual Literature: When the mother tongue is a ’foreign language’. Experiences and challenges of authors, translators, publishers and bookstores. When and what to translate? With Mari Finess (Arts Council Norway), Jon Rognlien (Literary researcher, Norway), Albert Russo (France), Fabio Croce (Italy), Elyas Poorgholam (Norway/ Iran), Thorborg Rebolledo Meisingset (Norway) and moderator Adam Powell (Norway).

19 September, Multilingualism: Writing and publishing books where several languages are used. Challenges and benefits to writing and publishing bilingually today. With Dr. Santosh Kumar (India), Albert Russo (France), Pradip Choudhuri (India), Thorborg Rebolledo Meisingset (Norway) and moderator Adam Powell (Norway/ USA).

20 September, Consequences, challenges and benefits of electronic publishing. International trends and visions for the future: How can small presses and independent publishers, bookstores, libraries meet these challenges? How will authors adapt to new technologies and be affected by the formats print-on-demand, online formats, novels published on SMS and iPod? What will be the impact on author’s language and style? is there a place for urban dialects, slang and cyber language? With keynote speaker prof. Scott Rettberg (University of Bergen, Norway), and Eivind Røssaak (Dr. Media Science, National Library of Norway), Fabio Croce (Italy), Amitabh Mitra (South Africa), Santosh Kumar (India) and moderator Adam Powell.