Language Relationships/ Kielisuhteet Seminar

Language Relationships/ Kielisuhteet Seminar, organized by Kieliviha/Språkhat/Language Tensions project and the BOMOCULT research community

9 October 2025, UEF, Joensuu campus, Aurora, AU210/online (hybrid), 9.00-16.15

The one-day seminar welcomes researchers and students interested in the interconnections between language, media, culture, place, and mobilities, particularly in the Nordic context. The seminar will be held in English, in hybrid mode, on-site in Joensuu (AU210) and online.

Guest lectures and a panel discussion will offer interdisciplinary perspectives on the changing role of minority languages and multilingualism in the shifting sociocultural and political contexts. By exploring how evolving attitudes towards language use, teaching and learning manifest in everyday practices and public discussions, the seminar will open up a space to consider the questions of language, culture, place and power from the perspectives of cultural studies, media and communication, cultural geography and political sciences.

Registration (open until 8 October; for on-site participation, please register by 5 October)

Program:

9.00 Opening

9.15 Guest lecture 1: ‘‘Moderation, Media, and the Power of Words: Narrative Dynamics in Russian-Language Facebook Groups in Finland” by Ilkhom Khalimzoda (University of Jyväskylä)

10.15 Break with refreshments

10.30 Guest lecture 2: “Meänkieli: Whose Language?” by Juha Ridanpää (University of Oulu)

11.30 Lunch (Self-financed)

13.00 Guest lecture 3: “Language as a Countable Entity? Reflecting on Migrants’ Relationships to Languages in Finland” by Reiko Shindo (University of Helsinki)

14.00 Break with refreshments

14.30 Panel discussion: “The changing role of the Russian language in Finland – cultural sector, education, and societal debate”. Panelists: Larisa Leisiö (UEF), Tuulia-Tuulia Tummavuori (The Union for Museum and Cultural Heritage Professionals MAL), Erja Vottonen (UEF). Convenors: Tuija Saresma and Evgenia Amey (UEF)

16.00 Closing remarks

Welcome!

For more information and questions, please contact Evgenia Amey ([email protected])