Keynote Speech | Maria Polinsky: “Language of (in)equality and (in)equality of languages”

Language lies at the core of human activity, bridging diverse realms such as health and healthcare, basic science, education, and technology. With seven thousand languages spoken across the modern world, the issue of inequality in language rights is urgent and resonates with disparities in other facets of human endeavor. This presentation will scrutinize the role of language in healthcare, education, and conflict zones, with a specific focus on regions such as Central America, the Caucasus, North America, and Oceania. We will explore concrete strategies for addressing existing imbalances in language rights globally and underscore the significance of minoritized languages in advancing the progressive agenda.