Language Enthusiasts Gather in Pune for Multilingualism Workshop Hosted by MSFDA and Deccan College

Pune, 13th September 2024: MSFDA, in collaboration with Deccan College, Pune, successfully hosted a five-day workshop on ‘Multilingualism: A Workshop for Language Enthusiasts’ from 9th to 13th September 2024. This program attracted language enthusiasts, educators, and researchers, offering an in-depth exploration of India’s linguistic diversity and the evolving role of multilingualism in various settings.

India’s unique socio-cultural fabric, comprising 121 mother tongues and 22 scheduled languages, was the focus of this workshop, with discussions ranging from linguistic processes like code-mixing to multilingualism’s impact on education and technology.

Day 1 featured sessions by Prof. Pramod Pandey, who discussed linguistic processes like code-mixing and code-switching, and Dr. Ujjwala Barve, who explored the intersection of media and multilingualism. Prof. Ramchandra Bhavsar rounded off the day with a talk on the impact of digital innovations on language use. Day 2 saw Dr. D. Vasanta delving into psycholinguistic perspectives, comparing multilingualism in India with Western contexts, while Sambhaji Jadhav presented an activity-based session on technology and multilingualism.

Days 3 to 5 continued with insightful sessions on diverse topics. Dr. Anagha Bhat discussed multilingualism in poetry and education, followed by Dr. Ajit Mohanty’s lecture on the National Education Policy. Prof. Sonal Kulkarni-Joshi explored linguistic landscaping on Day 4, while Dr. Rahul Mhaiskar highlighted multiscriptality through engaging activities. The final day, led by Prof. Ramesh Dhongde, focused on multilingualism in social and educational settings, using practical examples of lexical borrowing between English and Marathi.

The workshop concluded with a valedictory session, attended by Dr. Sujata Varadrajan, Prof. Sonal Kulkarni-Joshi, Bhargav Valanju, Mayuri Jadhav, and Dr. Rahul Mhaiskar. A total of 22 participants attended the workshop, and the event ended with feedback from the participants and a certificate distribution ceremony. The program was coordinated by Dr. Rahul Mhaiskar and co-coordinated by Mr. Satish Bangar.

This five-day program offered participants valuable insights into the complex world of multilingualism, emphasizing its cultural, social, and technological implications in India and beyond.