Where: Kino Rex, Bern
When: Tuesday 15 September, 6:30-8pm
Spots are free of charge and limited. To secure a spot at the event, please click on the following link (only register if you plan on attending, and cancel your spot if your plans change): https://eventfrog.ch/de/p/wissenschaft-und-technik/herkunftssprachen-in-der-schweiz-7482402295746927181.html
Heritage languages are spoken by a substantial proportion of the Swiss population. Alongside national languages used outside their officially recognised regions, an estimated 24.4% of Swiss residents report a non-national language as their main language (Bundesamt für Statistik 2023). Despite their prevalence, heritage languages often receive limited structural support, visibility, and social legitimacy.
Not all heritage languages are viewed in the same way. Some are seen as useful social or economic resources, while others are treated as obstacles to integration or participation in everyday life.
Through culture and conversation, Heritage Voices invites the public, students, and academics alike to explore how heritage languages are experienced and valued in Switzerland today. We will address challenges speakers face, why some languages receive more recognition than others, and what could be done to make heritage languages more visible and better supported.
The evening begins with a reading by author and filmmaker Yusuf Yeşilöz, whose work explores language, migration, belonging, and the experiences of heritage-language speakers.
A moderated panel discussion will then bring together:
Together, the panellists will share perspectives from education, culture, language policy, and community work. The discussion will also give the audience an opportunity to ask questions and contribute their own experiences and views.
Heritage Voices is coordinated by the CSLS in collaboration with partner institutes at the University of Bern as part of its ongoing efforts to promote public discussion about language and society.
